Week 1 Lecture 4

- Continuation of properties of vertical curves.

- Worked examples

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Properties of vertical curves

Distance to turning point tp (high/low point) (xtp) from PVC:

Given y = y0 + (G1x)/100 + 1/200 (rx2)

Slope: dy/dx = G1/100 + rx/100

At max/min point, or turning point, dy/dx = 0 = G1 + rx

x=xtp = -(G1/r)

where, r (rate of change of grade) is negative for crest, positive for sag

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 Properties of vertical curve - Example

PVC
G1

G2
PVT

PVI To establish position of PVC, and

Given for the above curve: length of curve.
Solution:
G1 = -1% G2 = +2%
Equal tangent curve
Elevation of PVI = 125.00 [m]
L/2 = 2500[m] 2400[m] = 100[m]
Station of PVT = 2500 [m] PVC = position PVI - L/2
Station of PVI = 2400 [m] PVC = 2400 [m] - 100 [m]
PVC = 2300 [m]
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L = 200 m
 PVC
G1

G2
PVT

PVI

Given: To establish rate of change of

slope (r ).
G1 = -1% G2 = +2%
r = (G2 - G1)/L
Elevation of PVI = 125.00 [m]
r = (2 - [-1])/200 [m]
Station of PVT = 2500 [m] r = 0.015 [%/meter]
Station of PVI = 2400 [m] or alternative notation (ratio):
r=0.00015 [m/m] 4
 PVC
G1

G2
PVT

PVI
To establish Position x of low point?
Given: xtp = -(G1/r) [m]
G1 = -1% G2 = +2% xtp = -(-0.01 / 0.00015) [m]
Elevation of PVI = 125.00 [m] or xtp = -(-1 / [0.015] ) [stations]
PVT = 2500 [m] xtp = 66.67 [m], PVC = 2300 [m]
PVI = 2400 [m] x = xPVC+xtp = 2367 [m]
Can also be written as (2+366.67) [m]
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 PVC
G1

G2
PVT

PVI

To establish Elevation at PVC.

Given:
y0 = Elev. PVC [m]
G1 = -1% G2 = +2%
Elev. PVC = Elev. PVI - g1L/2 [m]
Elevation of PVI = 125.00 [m]
Elev. PVC = 125 [m]-(-0.01 [m/m]x100 [m])
PVT = 2500 [m] Elev. PVC = 126 [m]
PVI = 2400 [m]
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 PVC
G1

G2
PVT

PVI
Given:
G1 = -1% G2 = +2% To establish Elevation at low point?
Elevation of PVI = 125.00 [m] y = y0 + g1x/100 + 1/200 rx2
y = 126 + (-0.01)(66.67 ) + 1/200 (0.015)(66.67)2
PVT = 2500 [m]
y = 125.67 [m]
PVI = 2400 [m]

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 PVC
G1

G2
PVT

PVI

To establish Elevation at position 2350 [m]?

y = y0 + g1x/100 + 1/200 rx2
Given:
y = 126 + (-0.01)(50) +
G1 = -1% G2 = +2% 1/200 (0.015)(50)2
Elevation of PVI = 125.00 [m] y = 125.69 [m]
PVT = 2500 [m] To establish Elevation at position 2450 [m]?
PVI = 2400 [m] y = 126 + (-0.01)(150) + 1/200
(0.015)(150)2
y = 126.19 [m]
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 PVC
G1

G2
PVT

PVI

Given: To establish Elevation at PVT?

G1 = -1% G2 = +2% y = y0 + g1x/100 + 1/200 rx2
y = 126 + (-0.01)(200) +
Elevation of PVI = 125.00 [m]
1/200 (0.015)(200)2
PVT = 2500 [m] y = 127 [m]
PVI = 2400 [m]

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Properties of vertical curves: Points to Note

If vertical distances are to be in meters, horizontal distances

should also be meters, and grades should be made dimensionless
ratios by dividing by 100.

1. Grades in percentages, x and y in meters, use:

y=y0+(G1x)/100+((G2-G1)x2)/(200L)

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