CE361 Introduction to

Transportation Engineering
Spring 2024

Geometric Design of Highways

Prof. Yiheng Feng

Lyles School of Civil Engineering
HAMP G131
feng333@purdue.edu

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Introduction
▪ Problem with 3D: difficult to implement in practice
▪ Solution: convert the 3D problem to two 2D problems

Horizontal alignment
of road shown in x
and z coordinates
called the plan view.

Vertical alignment of
the road is shown on
the y axis and is called
the profile view.

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Types of Vertical Curves

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Vertical Curve Equation
▪ Parabolic function:

𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐

y = roadway elevation at distance x fromType

the beginning
equationofhere.
the vertical curve in ft or station
x = distance from the beginning of the vertical curve in stations or ft
▪ Determine parameters a, b, and c
𝐺2 −𝐺1
• 𝑎=
2𝐿

• 𝑏 = 𝐺1
• 𝑐 = 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝑉𝐶

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Example 3.2 – Vertical Curve Design
An equal-tangent vertical curve is to be constructed between grades of -
2.0% (initial) and +1.0% (final). The PVI is at station 110 + 00 and at
elevation 420 ft. Due to a street crossing the roadway, the elevation of the
roadway at station 112 + 00 must be at 424.5 ft. Design the curve. Where is
the lowest point of the curve and what is the elevation?

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CE361 Traffic Engineering – Highway Geometry Design 6
Example – Vertical Curve Design
Low and high points

Case 1: Case 2:

If the initial and final grades are When the initial and final
opposite in sign, the low point grades are not opposite in sign,
on the curve will occur when the the low point on the curve will
first derivative of the parabolic be at the PVC or PVT
function is zero.
𝑑𝑦 This problem is Case 1
= 2𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 = 0
𝑑𝑥
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Vertical Curve Properties
▪ Offsets from the initial tangent (profile grade line) are very important in
vertical curve design and construction. Y is defined as the offset at any
distance, x, from the PVC.

𝑌𝑚 = midcurve offset in ft; 𝑌𝑓 = offset at the end of the vertical curve in ft

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Vertical Curve Properties
▪ Offset at any distance 𝑥 from the PVC in ft
𝐴
𝑌= 𝑥2 Eq. 3.7
200𝐿

▪ Mid-curve offset
𝐴𝐿
𝑌𝑚 = Eq. 3.8
800

▪ Offset at the end of the vertical curve

𝐴𝐿
𝑌𝑓 = Eq. 3.9
200

Where 𝐴 = |𝐺1 − 𝐺2 | (in percentage)

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Vertical Curve Properties
▪ Define K (rate of vertical curvature) is the horizontal distance in feet
required to affect a 1% change in the slope of a vertical curve. It has
several uses including simplifying the computation of the high/low
points of vertical curves. K is calculated as follows.
𝐿
𝐾= Eq. 3.10
𝐴
▪ The following equation is used to determine the horizontal distance 𝑥ℎ𝑙
to the high/low point in meters, given that the point does not occur at
the PVC or PVT

𝑥ℎ𝑙 = 𝐾 × |𝐺1 | Eq. 3.11

G1 is the absolute value of the initial grade in percent

▪ Watch the units: L is in ft, A is in percent, and K is in ft

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Class Design Problem
A 520-ft long equal tangent crest vertical curve connects tangents that
intersect at station 340+00 and elevation 1325 ft. The initial grad is +4.0%
and the final grade is -2.5%. Determine the elevation and stationing of the
highpoint, PVC and PVT.

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Class Design Problem

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