CIE 128:

TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING
SIGHT DISTANCE FOR VERTICAL
CURVES
Introduction
 SIGHT DISTANCE FOR VERTICAL
CURVES

Two Types of Vertical Curves:

1. Summit (Crest) Curve – when two grades meet
at the summit and the curve will have convexity
upwards, the curve is simply referred as summit
curve.

2. Sag (Valley) Curve – when two grades meet at

the valley or sag and the curve will have a
convexity downwards, the curve is simply
referred as the sag (valley) curve.

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SIGHT DISTANCE FOR VERTICAL
CURVES: SUMMIT CURVE
Lesson 6
 SIGHT DISTANCE FOR VERTICAL
CURVES: SUMMIT CURVE
A. When S < L
𝑨𝑺𝟐
𝑳= 𝟐
𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝒉𝟏 + 𝒉𝟐

𝑳 = 𝑲𝑨

𝑨 = 𝒈𝟏 − 𝒈𝟐

𝑹 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝑲

Where:
S = sight distance
L = length of the summit curve
h1 = height of eye level from the pavement, m
h2 = height of the object, m
K = length of vertical curve in meters for 1% change in grade
R = radius of parabolic curve

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 SIGHT DISTANCE FOR VERTICAL
CURVES: SUMMIT CURVE
B. When S > L
𝟐
𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝒉𝟏 + 𝒉𝟐
𝑳 = 𝟐𝑺 −
𝑨

𝑳 = 𝑲𝑨

𝑨 = 𝒈𝟏 − 𝒈𝟐

𝑹 = 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝑲

Where:
S = sight distance
L = length of the summit curve
h1 = height of eye level from the pavement, m
h2 = height of the object, m
K = length of vertical curve in meters for 1% change in grade
R = radius of parabolic curve

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 SIGHT DISTANCE FOR VERTICAL
CURVES: SUMMIT CURVE

C. California Standards Length of Vertical Curves

a) When the design speed is V < 60kph,

Use L = 60 m
b) When grade breaks A = g1 − g 2 is less than 2%,
Use L = 60 m
c) When V > 60kph, and grade break > 2%,
Use L = 2V
d) When V > kph, butt grade break < 2%,
Use L = 60 m

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 SIGHT DISTANCE FOR VERTICAL
CURVES: SUMMIT CURVE

Design Standards Used in the Philippines

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SIGHT DISTANCE FOR VERTICAL
CURVES: SAG CURVE
Lesson 7
 SIGHT DISTANCE FOR VERTICAL
CURVES: SAG CURVE
A. When S < L B. When S > L

𝑨𝑺𝟐 𝟏𝟐𝟎 + 𝟑. 𝟓𝑺
𝑳= 𝑳 = 𝟐𝑺 −
𝟏𝟐𝟎 + 𝟑. 𝟓𝑺 𝑨

𝑨 = 𝒈𝟐 − 𝒈𝟏 𝑨 = 𝒈𝟐 − 𝒈𝟏

Where:
L = length of the sag curve
S = the distance between the vertical and point where the one degree upward single
of the light beam intersects the surface of the roadway or stopping sight distance
A = algebraic difference in grades

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 SIGHT DISTANCE FOR VERTICAL
CURVES: SAG CURVE
C. Comfort Criterion D. Appearance Criterion

𝑨𝑽𝟐 a) When V > 60 kph, but A < 2%,

𝑳=
𝟑𝟗𝟓 L = 60 m
a) When V < 60 kph,
L = 60 m
Where:
V = design speed in kph a) When A < 2%,
L = 60 m
a) When V > 60 kph, and A > 2%,
L = 2V

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SAMPLE PROBLEMS
 SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
A 5% grade intersects a -3.4% grade at station 1+990 of elevation 42.30 m. Design a vertical summit parabolic curve
connecting the two tangent grades to conform with the following safe stopping sight distance specifications.
Design velocity = 60 kph
Height of driver’s eye from the road pavement = 1.37 m
Height of an object over the pavement ahead = 100 mm
Perception-reaction time = 3/4 sec
Coefficient of friction between the road pavement and the tires = 0.15
a) Determine the stopping sight distance.
b) Determine the length of curve.

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
A vertical summit curve has a tangent grade of +0.5% and -1.0% grade for a road which will provide a stopping sight distance
of 190 m. Height of the driver’s eye above the pavement is 1.07 m and the height of the object ahead is 0.15 m. Compute the
minimum length of the vertical curve for a design speed of 100 kph.

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
A vertical parabolic curve has a length of 280 m. it has an initial and final grades of +3% and -4%. The elevation of the PC is
30 m and is at station 10+120. Find the value of K, the stationing of the highest point of the curve, and the elevation of the
highest point of the curve.

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM 4
Compute the minimum length of vertical sag curve that will provide 130 m stopping sight distance for a design speed of 80
kph at the intersection of a -2.30% and +4.8% grade.

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM 5
A 300 m vertical parabolic sag curve are connected by tangent grades -5% and +1% which intersects at station 10+050 and
elevation 374.50 m. Compute the length of the curve per 1° change in grade, the distance from the PC to the lowest point of
the curve, and the elevation of the lowest point of the curve.

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Thank You!
See you next meeting!!!

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