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Vertical Alignment
Vertical Alignment
Instractor:
Eyassu Tesfamariam (PhD)
Assist. Instractor:
Sophonyas Asrat(BSc)
Course contents
y Highway route selection
y factors considered in highway route selection
f d d h h l
y Steps in highway route selection
y Geometric design of highways:
y Design controls and criteria
y Functional classification systems of highways
y Vehicle and driver characteristics
y Highway cross‐section elements:
y Lane and shoulders, sidewalks, medians, and pedestrian crossings
p g
y Elements of geometric design:
y Horizontal alignment, Transition and super‐elevation, Vertical
alignment, Sight distance, Intersections and Interchanges
y Earthwork quantities and mass‐haul diagram
y Drainage and drainage structures
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Vertical alignment
y Types of Vertical Curves
yp + G2
y Crest vertical curves
+ G1
PVI L/2
Δ
L
PVC PVT
‐ G1
L/2
+ G1 ‐ G2
‐ G2
L
y .
Crest vertical curve –type I Crest vertical curve –type II
(Equal Tangent Vertical Curves) (Equal tangent)
Vertical alignment
y Types of Vertical Curves
‐ G1
y Sag vertical curves
‐ G2
L/2
L
‐ G1 + G2
+ G2
L/2
+G1
L
Sag vertical curve –type I Sag vertical curve –type II
(Equal Tangent Vertical Curves)
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Vertical alignment
y Vertical curve elements
Parabolic curve:
y = ax2 + bx + c
y G1 = initial roadway grade (% or m/m)
yg
y G2 = final roadway grade in percent (% or m/m)
y A = Absolute value of difference in grades (initial minus final, usually in percent)
y PVC = point of the vertical curve (the initial point of the curve)
y PVI =point of vertical intersection (intersection of initial and final grades)
y PVT = point of vertical tangent, which is the final point of the vertical curve
y L = the length of the curve in stations or m measured in a constant elevation horizontal plane
y Y = offset for equal‐tangent vertical curves
Vertical alignment
y Vertical curve elements
y Mathematical presentation of vertical curves – parabolic – provides
a constant rate of slope
y = ax2 + bx + c
a = (G2 − G1 ) 2L
b = G1
c = Elev
El PVC
Where,
y = roadway elevation at distance x from the beginning of the vertical curve
(PVC), in m.
x = distance from the beginning of the vertical curve in station (m/100) or m.
a, b =coefficients
C = elevation of PVC
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Basic Equations:
Vertical alignment
y Vertical curve elements
= g1K
Vertical alignment
y Vertical curve elements
y For an equal‐tangent parabola, the offset is given by
A 2 1
Y= x = x2
200L 200K
y An important parameter K
Horizontal distance, in m, required to effect a 1% change in the slope
of the vertical curve
L
K= where: A = G1 − G2 [in %]
A
y Distance from the PVC to the high/low point (m)
xhl = K × G1
y .
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Vertical alignment
y Example:
y A +4.6% grade intersects a ‐3.0% grade at station 92+600 and at
A 6% d i % d i 6 d
elevation of 1004.86 m. Given that a 360 m curve is utilized, determine
the station and elevation of the PVC and PVT. Calculate elevations at
every 20 m station and locate the station and elevation of the high
point of the curve.
y A sketch of the given conditions
Vertical alignment
y Solution:
y Given:
Gi g1 = +4.6% (G
6% (G1 = +0.046 m/m)
6 / )
g2 = –3.0% (G2 = –0.03 m/m)
PVI sta. = 92+600 m, PVI elev. = 1008.28 m
L = 360 m, L/2 = 180 m
y Station locations for the PVC and PVT
y PVC sta. = PVI sta. – L/2 = 92+600 – 180 = 92+420
y PVT sta. = PVC sta. + L = 92+420 + 360 = 92+780
y Elevations for the PVC and PVT
y Elev. PVC = Elev. PVI –
Elev PVC = Elev PVI G1(L/2) = 1008.28 –
(L/2) = 1008 28 0.046(180) = 1000.00 m
0 046(180) = 1000 00 m
y Elev. PVT = Elev. PVI – G2(L/2) = 1008.28 – 0.03 (180) = 1002.88 m
y Location of high point
y xh = g1K = g1 (L/A) = 4.6(360/7.6) = 217.89 m
y High point sta. = PVC sta. + 217.89 m = 92+420 + 217.89 = 92+637.89
y Elev. of high point (Elev. xh)= Elev. PVC + G1 xh + A/200L (xh)2
Elev. xh = 1000.00 + 0.046(217.89) + (‐7.6)/(200*360) * (217.89)2 = 1005.01 m
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Vertical alignment
Calculation for point elevations at even 20 m stations
p
Elev. On initial tangent Offset Final Elev. On curve
Station x (m) Elev. PVC + G1 x y (Elev. On tangent ‐ y )
PVC 92 + 420 0 1000.00 0.00 1000.00
92 + 440 20 1000.92 ‐0.04 1000.88
92 + 460 40 1001.84 ‐0.17 1001.67
92 + 480 60 1002.76 ‐0.38 1002.38
4.60%
Vertical alignment
y Exercise:
y 1.) An equal‐tangent vertical curve is to be constructed between grades of
) l l b db d f
‐2.0% (initial) and +1.0% (final). The PVI is at station 3+352.8 and at
elevation 128.016 m. Due to a street crossing a roadway, the elevation of
the roadway at station 3+413.760 must be at 129.388 m. Design the curve.
y 2.) A vertical curve crosses a 1.219 m diameter pipe at right angles. The
pipe is located at station 3+378.708 and its centerline is at elevation
332.720 m. The PVI of the vertical curve is at station 3+352.800 and
334 79 q g , g,
elevation 334.792 m. The vertical curve is equal tangent, 182.880 m long,
and connects an initial grade of +1.20% and a final grade of ‐1.08%. Using
offsets, determine the depth, below the surface of the curve, of the top of
the pipe and determine the station of the highest point of the curve.
y .
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Vertical alignment
y Grade Selection
y Vehicle operation on gradients depend on:
y severity and length of gradient,
y level and composition of traffic, and
y the number of overtaking opportunities on the gradient and in
its vicinity.
y Important: criterion for maximum gradient
y greatly affects the serviceability and cost of the road
Vertical alignment
Grade Selection
y Standards for desirable maximum gradients are set to assure user
comfort and to avoid severe reductions in the design speed.
ERA geometric design manual, 2002
As traffic flow increases, more sever
gradients result in increased vehicle Higher gradients for lower class roads
operating and time costs.
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Vertical alignment
y Grade Selection
y The maximum allowable gradient through a switchback
curve is 4% for road standards DS1‐DS5, and 6% for DS6‐
DS10.
y Minimum allowable gradient is 0.5%.
y Flat and level gradients on uncurbed paved highways are
acceptable when the cross slope and carriageway elevation
above the surrounding ground is adequate to drain the
b h di d i d d i h
surface laterally.
y With curbed highways or streets, longitudinal gradients
should be provided to facilitate surface drainage.
Vertical alignment
y Critical length of gradient
g g
y Definition: the maximum length of a designated upgrade upon
which a loaded truck can operate without unreasonable
reduction in speed.
y the critical length of gradient decreases, as gradient increases.
y dependent on the gradient of the approach; a downhill approach
will allow vehicles to gain momentum and increase the critical
g
length.
y Where it is necessary to exceed the critical length of gradient on
heavily trafficked roads, it is desirable to provide either a safe
passing distances on the rise or a climbing lane for heavy
vehicles.
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Vertical alignment
Climbing lanes
y Introduce climbing lanes when traffic volumes are greater than 400 ADT.
y Introduce a relief gradient of less than 6% between steep sections with
I d li f di f l h 6% b i i h
minimum length of 100 m.
y Reduced level of service over escarpment sections is an alternative to
introducing climbing lanes in order to reduce construction costs.
Trunk
and
Link
roads
y .
Vertical alignment
Climbing / overtaking lanes
y Benefits:
Faster vehicles can overtake more easily,
resulting in
• shorter average journey times,
• reduced vehicle‐operating costs, &
• increased safety.
Benefits increase with
• increases in gradient,
• length of gradient,
• traffic flow,
• the proportion of trucks, and
• reductions in overtaking opportunities.
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Sight distance
y vertical alignment
Crest
Sag
Sight distance
y Crest vertical alignment
y Minimum length of a crest vertical curve to provide adequate
sight distance
AS 2
y For S < L L=
200( H1 + H 2 ) 2
200( H1 + H 2 ) 2
y For S > L L = 2S −
A
y S = Sight distance (SSD)
y H1 = height of driver’s eye above roadway surface in m.
y H2 = height of object above roadway surface in m.
y A = absolute value of the difference in grades |G1 ‐ G2| , expressed as a %.
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Sight distance
Crest vertical alignment
Vertical alignment
y Crest vertical alignment
g
y Height of the driver’s eye H1 = 1.08 m
y Object height H2 = 0.60 m AS 2
For S < L : L= = KA
658
y The equations now become:‐
658
For S > L : L = 2S −
Where: A
V2
S = SSD = 0.278Vt + NB: In practice, the assumption
p p
254( f ± G ) that L > SSD is always made.
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Sight distance
y Sag vertical alignment
y Minimum length of a sag vertical curve to provide adequate sight
l h f l d d h
distance at night time.
y Length of roadway illuminated by vehicle headlight
AS 2
y For S < L L=
200( H + S tan β )
200( H + S tan β )
y For S > L L = 2S −
A
y .
Vertical alignment
y Sag vertical curve
g NB: In practice, the assumption
NB: In practice the assumption
y Headlight height H = 0.60 m that L > SSD is always made.
y Angle β = 1o AS 2
For S < L : L = = KA
120 + 3.5 S
y The equations now become:‐
120 + 3.5 S
For S > L : L = 2 S −
Where: A
V2
S = SSD = 0.278Vt +
254( f ± G )
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Crest vertical curves
y Crest and Sag curves L = KA ⎛ Lmini = 0.6 VD ⎞
⎜⎜ ⎟⎟
⎝ D
V = Design speed ( km / hr ) ⎠
SSD 2
Crest : K= Remarks:
658 1. L > SSD is a safe and
SSD 2 conservative assumption!
Sag : K= 2. When computing SSD, G is
120 + 3.5 SSD almost always ignored.
V2
SSD = 0.278Vt +
254( f ± G )
As defined before,
K = the horizontal distance required to effect a 1% change in the slope
A = absolute value of the difference in grades |G1 ‐ G2| , expressed as a %.
Crest vertical curves
y Design controls
y Determine Lmin
Crest vertical curves
ERA geometric
design manual, 2002
Sag vertical curves
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Sight distance
Design controls for vert. curves based on SSD
Crest Vert. curve SagVert. curve
Source: Mannering ref. book
Crest vertical curves
y Design controls
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Crest vertical curves
y Passing Sight Distance (PSD)
g g
y Crest vertical curve
A ⋅ PSD 2 PSD 2
y PSD < L L= = KA ⇒ K=
864 864
864
y PSD > L L = 2 ⋅ PSD −
A
NB: As was the case for stopping sight distance (SSD),
it is typically assumed that L > PSD
Sight distance
Design controls for crest curve based on PSD
Crest Vert. curve
Source: Mannering ref. book
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Crest vertical curves
y Underpass distance on sag vertical curve
AS 2 For S > L
For S < L L= ⎛ H + H2 ⎞
⎛ H + H2 ⎞ 800⎜ H c − 1 ⎟
800⎜ H c − 1 ⎟ ⎝ 2 ⎠
⎝ 2 ⎠ L = 2S −
A
Clearance height of overpass
structure above roadway
y .
Sight distance
y Sag vertical alignment
y Use H1 = 2.40 m for a truck driver
H2 = 0.60 m for object height (taillights of a vehicle)
y Substituting…
A ⋅ SSD 2
y For S < L L=
800( H c − 1.5)
800( H c − 1.5)
y For S > L L = 2 ⋅ SSD −
A
y S = Stopping sight distance (SSD)
y H1 = height of driver’s eye above roadway surface in m.
y H2 = height of object above roadway surface in m.
y A = absolute value of the difference in grades |G1 ‐ G2| , expressed as a %.
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Sight distance
y Example:
y An equal tangent sag curve has an initial grade of ‐4.0%, a final grade of +3.0%,
A l t t h i iti l d f % fi l d f %
and a length of 387.096 m. an overhead guide sign is being placed directly over
the PVI of this curve. At what height above the roadway should the bottom of
this sign be placed.
y Solution:
y The necessary clearance must be provided based on SSD
y The K value can be calculated as
K = L/A = 387.096/|‐4 – 3| = 55.3 V = 120 km/hr (from table)
SSD = 0 278 Vt + V2/254(f ± G)
y SSD = 0.278 Vt
= 0.278(120 x 2.5) + 1202/254(0.28 – 0)= 285.9 m < L
y L = AS2/800(Hc – 1.5)
Clearance Hc = 7(285.9)2/800(387.096) + 1.5 = 3.35 m
The clearance needed for the design vehicle must be provided if it is greater
than 3.35 m (usually 4 – 5 m is provided).
Sight distance
y Example:
y An equal tangent sag curve has an initial grade of ‐4.0%, a final grade of +3.0%,
A l t t h i iti l d f % fi l d f %
and a length of 387.096 m. an overhead guide sign is being placed directly over
the PVI of this curve. At what height above the roadway should the bottom of
this sign be placed.
y Solution:
y The necessary clearance must be provided based on SSD
y The K value can be calculated as
K = L/A = 387.096/|‐4 – 3| = 55.3 V = 105 km/hr (Interpolated )!
SSD = 0 278 Vt + V2/254(f ± G)
y SSD = 0.278 Vt
= 0.278(105 x 2.5) + 1052/254(0.28 – 0.04)= 253.8 m < L
y L = AS2/800(Hc – 1.5)
Clearance Hc = 7(253.8)2/800(387.096) + 1.5 = 2.96 m
The clearance needed for the design vehicle must be provided if it is greater
than 2.96 m (usually 4 – 5 m is provided).
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Sight distance
y Vertical curve
Do not forget to provide
adequate clearance for the
design vehicle !!!
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