TTE

3810 Highway Engineering

Chap 3. Geometric Design of Highways

3.1 Introduction
3.2 Principles of Highway Alignment
3.3 Vertical Alignment
3.3.1 Vertical Curve Fundamentals

1
1 Introduction
Design Elements
• Influenced by vehicle performance
Objective of Geometric Design
• Design that is safe for
– Wide variety of vehicle performance
– Wide variety of human performance
Current guidelines of highway design
A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and
Streets, 6th Edition, AASHTO 2011

2
2 Principles of Highway Alignment
Convert a 3-D problem into two 2-D problems

Figure 3.1 Highway alignment in three-

dimensions.
Figure 3.2 Highway alignment in
two-dimensional views.
• Highway positioning & length- distance along the highway from a
specified point
• Stationing - with a station being 100 ft or 1 km
• If a point is 4250 ft from origin, it is at station: 42 + 50 3
3 Vertical Alignment
PVC: Point of Vertical Curvature (initial point)
PVI: Point of Vertical Intersection (of initial and final tangents)
PVT: Point of Vertical Tangent (final point)

Equal tangent vertical curves:

Dist. PVC to PVI = L/2

Fig. 3.3

A: Absolute value difference in grades (initial minus final, %)

A = |G1 – G2|
L: Length of the curve in stations or ft on horizontal plane
G1: Initial roadway grade (% or ft/ft)
G2: Final roadway grade (% or ft/ft) 4
3 Vertical Alignment

5
3.1 Vertical Curve Fundamentals
Parabolic curves are generally used for design

• Parabolic function
y = ax 2 + bx + c
Eq. 3.1

y Roadway elevation
x Distance from PVC
c Elevation of PVC
a, b Coefficients defined on next slides

• Also usually design for equal-length tangents

– i.e., half of curve length is before PVI and half after
6
3.1 Vertical Curve Fundamentals
First derivative gives slope
dy
= 2ax + b
dx

At PVC: x=0
dy
b= = G1
then: dx

G1 initial slope (in ft/ft) as previously defined

7
3.1 Vertical Curve Fundamentals
Second derivative gives rate of change of slope

d2y
2
= 2a
dx
However, the average rate of change of slope, by
observation, can also be written as

d 2 y (G2 - G1 )
2
=
dx L

a=
(G2 - G1 ) Eq. 3.6
Thus,
2L
If x is in feet use ft/ft or If x is in station use %
8
 3.1 Vertical Curve Fundamentals
Offsets (Y) are vertical distances from initial tangent
to the curve
A 2
For an equal tangent parabola, Y= x Eq. 3.7
200L
Y = Offset (ft) at any distance, x, from the PVC
A = |G1 – G2| where G1 & G2 are in %

Fig. 3.4 9
 3.1 Vertical Curve Fundamentals
It follows from the figure that
AL A 2
Ym = offset at the curve midpoint Y= x Eq. 3.7
800 200L
AL
Yf = offset at the end the curve
200

Fig. 3.4 10
3.1 Vertical Curve Fundamentals
“K” value
• Length of the curve required to effect a 1% change
in slope
– Since the parabolic equation gives a constant rate of
change of slope:

L
K= Eq. 3.10

A = |G1 – G2|
11
3.1 Vertical Curve Fundamentals
“K” value (cont)

• Used to compute
– High point for crest vertical curves
– Low point for sag vertical curves

If the high/low point is not at a curve end, then

xhl = K ´ |G1| Eq. 3.11

xhl : Distance from the PVC to the high/low point in ft

• K-values have additional applications explained later

12
Problem 3.1
A 520-ft long equal tangent crest vertical curve connects
tangents that intersect at station 340 + 00 and
elevation 1325 ft. The initial grade is +4.0% and the
final grade is -2.5%. Determine the elevation and
stationing of the high point, PVC and PVT.

13
 Problem 3.1
A 520-ft long equal tangent crest vertical curve connects
tangents that intersect at station 340 + 00 and
elevation 1325 ft. The initial grade is +4.0% and the
final grade is -2.5%. Determine the elevation and
stationing of the high point, PVC and PVT.
𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝐻𝑃 =?
𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝐻𝑃 =?
𝑃𝑉𝐼 𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐼 = 1325 𝑓𝑡

𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐶 =?
𝑃𝑉𝑇 𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐶 =?

𝑃𝑉𝐶
𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝑇 =?
← 𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐼 = 34000 𝑓𝑡
𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝑇 =?

𝐿/2 𝐿/2

𝐿 = 520 𝑓𝑡 14
 Problem 3.1
A 520-ft long equal tangent crest vertical curve connects
tangents that intersect at station 340 + 00 and
elevation 1325 ft. The initial grade is +4.0% and the
final grade is -2.5%. Determine the elevation and
stationing of the high point, PVC and PVT.
L
𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐼 −
𝑃𝑉𝐼 2

𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 34000 − 520/2

𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 34000 − 260

𝑃𝑉𝐶
← 𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐶 =? ← 𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐼 = 34000 𝑓𝑡
𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 33740 𝑓𝑡

𝐿/2
𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 337 + 40
15
 Problem 3.1
A 520-ft long equal tangent crest vertical curve connects
tangents that intersect at station 340 + 00 and
elevation 1325 ft. The initial grade is +4.0% and the
final grade is -2.5%. Determine the elevation and
stationing of the high point, PVC and PVT.
L
𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐼 − G>
𝑃𝑉𝐼 𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐼 = 1325 𝑓𝑡 2

𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 1325 − 0.04×260

𝐿
? 𝐺>×
2
𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐶 =? 𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 1314.6 𝑓𝑡
𝑃𝑉𝐶

𝐿/2

16
 Problem 3.1
A 520-ft long equal tangent crest vertical curve connects
tangents that intersect at station 340 + 00 and
elevation 1325 ft. The initial grade is +4.0% and the
final grade is -2.5%. Determine the elevation and
stationing of the high point, PVC and PVT.
𝑦 𝑑𝑦
= 0 = 2𝑎𝑥CD + 𝑏
𝑑𝑥
b
𝑥CD = −
2𝑎
𝑦CD ? 𝐻𝑃
𝐺K − 𝐺>
𝑎= = −0.0000625
2𝐿
𝑏 = 𝐺> = 0.04
𝑃𝑉𝐶 𝑥 𝑥CD = 320 𝑓𝑡
0, 𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐶
𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝐻𝑃 = 𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐶 + 𝑥CD
𝑥CD = ?
𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝐻𝑃 = 34060 ft
← 𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 33740 𝑓𝑡 ← 𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝐻𝑃 =? 𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝐻𝑃 = 340 + 60 17
 Problem 3.1
A 520-ft long equal tangent crest vertical curve connects
tangents that intersect at station 340 + 00 and
elevation 1325 ft. The initial grade is +4.0% and the
final grade is -2.5%. Determine the elevation and
stationing of the high point, PVC and PVT.
K
𝑦 𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝐻𝑃 = 𝑦CD = 𝑎𝑥CD + 𝑏𝑥CD + 𝑐

𝑎 = −0.0000625
𝐻𝑃 𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝐻𝑃
𝑦CD ? 𝑏 = 0.04

𝑥CD = 320 𝑓𝑡
𝑐 = 𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 1314.6 𝑓𝑡
𝑥
0, 𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐶

𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝐻𝑃 = 1321 𝑓𝑡
𝑥CD = 320 𝑓𝑡

← 𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 33740 𝑓𝑡

18
 Problem 3.1
A 520-ft long equal tangent crest vertical curve connects
tangents that intersect at station 340 + 00 and
elevation 1325 ft. The initial grade is +4.0% and the
final grade is -2.5%. Determine the elevation and
stationing of the high point, PVC and PVT.
𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝑇 = 𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐼 + 𝐿/2

𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝑇 = 34260 𝑓𝑡

𝑃𝑉𝐼 𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐼 = 1325 𝑓𝑡
𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝑇 = 342 + 60

𝑃𝑉𝑇

𝑃𝑉𝐶
← 𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐼 = 34000 𝑓𝑡
← 𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝑇 =?
𝐿/2

19
 Problem 3.1
A 520-ft long equal tangent crest vertical curve connects
tangents that intersect at station 340 + 00 and
elevation 1325 ft. The initial grade is +4.0% and the
final grade is -2.5%. Determine the elevation and
stationing of the high point, PVC and PVT.
𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝑇 = 𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐶 + ?

𝑌S −𝑌Q
= 𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐶 + 𝐴𝐿
𝑌Q =
200
= 1314.6 + 20.8 − 16.9
6.5×520
𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝑇 = 1318.5 𝑓𝑡 =
200
= 16.9 𝑓𝑡

𝑌S = 𝐺>×𝐿
𝑃𝑉𝑇
= 20.8 𝑓𝑡
𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 1314.6 𝑓𝑡 ?
𝑃𝑉𝐶

𝐿 = 520 𝑓𝑡 20
 Problem 3.1
A 520-ft long equal tangent crest vertical curve connects
tangents that intersect at station 340 + 00 and
elevation 1325 ft. The initial grade is +4.0% and the
final grade is -2.5%. Determine the elevation and
stationing of the high point, PVC and PVT.
𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝐻𝑃 = 1321 𝑓𝑡
𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝐻𝑃 = 340 + 60
𝑃𝑉𝐼 𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐼 = 1325 𝑓𝑡

𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 1314.6 𝑓𝑡

𝑃𝑉𝑇 𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐶 = 337 + 40

𝑃𝑉𝐶
𝐸𝐿𝐸𝑉 𝑃𝑉𝑇 = 1318.5 𝑓𝑡
← 𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝐼 = 34000 𝑓𝑡
𝑆𝑇𝐴 𝑃𝑉𝑇 = 342 + 60

𝐿/2 𝐿/2

𝐿 = 520 𝑓𝑡 21