PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY – URDANETA CAMPUS
Module in CE 211-ENGINEERING SURVEYS
TOPIC OUTLINE
A. Symmetrical Parabolic
Curve
B. Unsymmetrical Parabolic
Curve
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. To be able to determine
the rate of change and
design criteria of a
Symmetrical Parabolic
Curve.
2. To be able to learn,
compute and design
unsymmetrical parabolic
curves.
OVERVIEW
Vertical curves are used to
provide gradual change between
two adjacent vertical grade
lines. The curve used to
connect the two adjacent grades
is parabola. Parabola offers
smooth transition because its
second derivative is constant.
ELEMENTS OF VERTICAL
CURVES
PC = point of curvature, also
known as BVC (beginning of
vertical curve)
PT = point of tangency, also
known as EVC (end of vertical
curve)
PI = point of intersection of
the tangents, also
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Module No. 17
called PVI (point of vertical
intersection)
L = length of parabolic curve,
it is the projection of the
curve onto a horizontal surface
which corresponds to the plan
distance.
S1 = horizontal distance
from PC to the highest (lowest)
point of the summit (sag) curve
S2 = horizontal distance
from PT to the highest (lowest)
point of the summit (sag) curve
h1 = vertical distance
between PC and the highest
(lowest) point of the summit
(sag) curve
h2 = vertical distance
between PT and the highest
(lowest) point of the summit
(sag) curve
g1 = grade (in percent) of back
tangent (tangent through PC)
g2 = grade (in percent) of
forward tangent (tangent
through PT)
A = change in grade
from PC to PT
a = vertical distance
between PC and PI
b = vertical distance
between PT and PI
H = vertical distance
between PI and the curve
SYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC
CURVES
In this section, symmetrical
parabolic curve does not
necessarily mean the curve is
symmetrical at L/2, it simply
means that the curve is made up
of single vertical parabolic
curve. Using two or more
parabolic curves placed
adjacent to each other is
called unsymmetrical parabolic
curve. The figure shown below
is a vertical summit curve.
Note that the same elements
hold true for vertical sag
curve.
PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY – URDANETA CAMPUS
Module in CE 211-ENGINEERING SURVEYS Module No. 17

Neglecting the sign of g1 and g2

S1 = horizontal distance
from PC to the highest (lowest)
point of the summit (sag) curve

S2 = horizontal distance
from PT to the highest (lowest)
point of the summit (sag) curve

Vertical distance = area under

the grade diagram

PROPERTIES OF PARABOLIC CURVE

AND ITS GRADE DIAGRAM Other formulas

1. The length of parabolic

curve L is the horizontal
distance
between PI and PT. Rate of Change
2. PI is midway between PC For Summit Curve n=(g1-g2)/r
and PT. For Sag Curve n=(g2-g1)/r
3. The curve is midway
between PI and the
midpoint of the chord
from PC to PT. UNSYMMETRICAL PARABOLIC
4. The vertical distance CURVES
between any two points on
the curve is equal to area
A vertical highway curve is at
under the grade diagram.
times designed to include a
The vertical distance c =
particular elevation at a
Area.
certain station where the
5. The grade of the curve at
grades of the forward and
a specific point is equal
backwards tangents have already
to the offset distance in
been established. It is
the grade diagram under
therefore necessary to use a
that point. The grade at
curve with unequal tangents or
point Q is equal to gQ.
a compound curve which is
usually called “unsymmetrical”
Formulas for Symmetrical
or asymmetrical parabolic curve
Parabolic Curve
where one parabola extends from
The figure shown above
the P.C. to a point directly
illustrates the following
below the vertex and a second
geometric properties of
parabola which extends from
parabolic curve. Note that the
this point to the P.I. In order
principles and formulas can be
to make the entire curve smooth
applied to both summit and sag
and continuous, the two
curves.
parabolas are so constructed so
that they will have a common
rise=run x slope
tangent at the point where they
joined, that is at a point
directly below the vertex.
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PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY – URDANETA CAMPUS
Module in CE 211-ENGINEERING SURVEYS Module No. 17

the highest point of the sag is

obtained from the relation.
𝑔₁𝐿₁
(1) S₁=𝑔₁−𝑔₃

Substituting these values and

solving for g3 we have:
𝐿₁
(2) H = 2 (g1-g3)
2H = L1g1 - L1g3
g3L1 = L1g1 - 2H
𝐿₁𝑔₁−2𝐻
Considering triangles AVD and g3 = 𝐿₁
ABC 2𝐻
(3) g3 = 𝑔₁ − 𝐿₁
𝟐𝑯 (𝒈₁−𝒈₂)𝑳₂
=
𝑳₁ 𝑳₁ +𝑳₂ From equation (1) substitute
(𝒈₁−𝒈₂)𝑳₂∗𝑳₁
H = equation (3).
𝟐(𝑳₁+𝑳₂)
1
h1 = 4 H 𝑔₁𝐿₁
1 S₁ = 𝑔₁−𝑔₃
h2 = 4 H 𝑔₁𝐿₁
Solving for L1: S₁ = 2𝐻
𝑔₁−(𝑔₁− )
𝐿₁
𝑔₁𝐿₁
𝟐𝑯𝑳₂ S₁ = (𝑔₁𝐿₁−2𝐻)
L1 = 𝑔₁−
𝐿₁
𝑳₂(𝒈₁−𝒈₂)−𝟐𝑯
𝑔₁𝐿₁²
S₁ = (𝑔₁𝐿₁−𝑔₁𝐿₁+2𝐻)
Location of the highest or 𝐿₁

lowest point of the curve

𝐿₁𝑔₁ 𝑔₁𝐿₁²
a) From the P.C when 2 < H S₁ = 2𝐻

𝑔₁𝐿₁²
S₁= 2𝐻 S1=Location of the highest and
lowest point of the curve from
the P.C.
Likewise, the location of the
lowest or highest point of the
curve could be computed from
the P.T. of the curve, this
𝐿₁𝑔₁
holds true when is greater
2
than H. Considering the figure
Let g3, be the slope of the shown, let us assume that the
common tangent of the parabolic highest or lowest point of the
curve. curve is found on the right
side of the parabola.

𝐿₁𝑔₁
b) From the P.T. when > H
2

𝑔₂𝐿₂²
S2 = 2𝐻

Considering the symmetrical

parabola AVF, the location of

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PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY – URDANETA CAMPUS
Module in CE 211-ENGINEERING SURVEYS Module No. 17

LEARNING ACTIVITY

Problem. A parabolic curve has

a descending grade of -0.8%
which meets an ascending grade
of 0.4% at station 10+020. The
maximum allowable change of
grade per 20m station is 0.15.
Elevation at station 10+020 is
240.60m.
Considering the right side of
the parabola, VFCD. a. What is the length of the
curve?
b. Compute the elevation of
the lowest point of the
curve.
c. Compute the elevation at
station 10+000.

Problem. A symmetrical vertical

summit curve has tangents of
(1)
𝑔₂𝐿₂
S2=𝑔₃−𝑔₂ +4% and -2%. The allowable rate
of change of grade is 0.3% per
𝐿₁
(2) H = (g₃-g₂) meter station. Stationing and
2
elevation of P.T. is at 10+020
Solving for g3 in equation (2) and 142.63m respectively.
a. Compute the length of
2H = L2g3 – L2g2 curve.
2𝐻+𝐿₂𝑔₂ b. Compute the distance of
(3) g₃= 𝐿₂
the highest point of curve
from the P.C.
Substituting equation (3) in c. Compute the elevation of
(1). the highest point of
curve.
𝑔₂𝐿₂
S2 = 𝑔₃−𝑔₂
𝑔₂𝐿₂ Problem. An unsymmetrical
S2 = 2𝐻+ 𝐿₂𝑔₂−2𝐻 parabolic curve has a forward
−𝑔₂
𝐿₂
𝑔₂𝐿₂² tangent of -8% and a back
S2 = tangent of +5%. The length of
2𝐻+𝐿₂𝑔₂−(𝐿2 )²𝑔₂
the curve on the left side of
𝑔₂𝐿₂² the curve is 40m long while
S2 = 2𝐻 that of the right side is 60m
long. The P.C. is at station
6+780 and has an elevation of
𝐿₁𝑔₁
when 2 > H, the highest or 110m. An outcrop is found at
lowest point of the curve is station 6+800 has an elevation
located on the right side of of 108.40m.
the curve. a) Compute the height of fill
needed to cover the
outcrop.
b) Compute the elevation of
curve at station 6+820.

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PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY – URDANETA CAMPUS
Module in CE 211-ENGINEERING SURVEYS Module No. 17

c) Compute the elevation of

the highest point of the
curve.

SUMMARY

Vertical Curves are the second

of the two important transition
elements in geometric design
for highways, the first
being Horizontal Curves. A
vertical curve provides a
transition between two sloped
roadways, allowing a vehicle to
negotiate the elevation rate
change at a gradual rate rather
than a sharp cut. The design of
the curve is dependent on the
intended design speed for the
roadway, as well as other
factors including drainage,
slope, acceptable rate of
change, and friction. These
curves are parabolic and are
assigned stationing based on a
horizontal axis.

REFERENCES

https://mathalino.com/reviewer/
surveying-and-transportation-
engineering/parabolic-curve

Prepared by:

ENGR. ELMAR T. ANTOLIN

Faculty, Civil Engineering
Department
College of Engineering and
Architecture