ADVANCE ENGINEERING

SURVEYING

Lecture 7: Vertical Curve

IRFAN KHALID
Dept. of Civil Engineering
FAST-NU
 Vertical curves

• When two different gradients

meet at a point along a road
surface, they form a sharp
point at the apex. Unless this
apex point is rounded off to
form a smooth curve, no
vehicle can move along that
portion of the road.

So, for the smooth and safe running of vehicles, the meeting point of
the gradients is rounded off to form a smooth curve in a vertical plane.
This curve is known as vertical curve.

Generally, the parabolic curves are preferred as it is easy to work out

the minimum sight distance in their case, and the minimum sight
distance is an important factor to be considered while calculating the
length of the vertical curve.
Vertical curves
 Vertical curves
Gradient
• The gradient is expressed in two ways

▫ (a). As percentage
▫ (b). As 1 in n,
 where n is the horizontal distance and 1 represents the vertical
distance

• Again the gradient may be rise or fall.

• An up gradient is known as rise and is denoted by positive sign.
• A down gradient is known as fall and it indicated by negative sign.
 Vertical curves
Rate of change of grade

• The characteristics of a parabolic curve is that the gradient changes

from point to point but the rate of change of grade remains constant.

• Hence, for finding the length of the vertical curve, the rate of change
of grade should be an important consideration as this factor remains
constant throughout the length of vertical curve.

• Generally, the recommended rate of change of grade is 0.1% per 30m

at the summit and 0.05% per 30m at sags.
 Vertical curves
Length of vertical curve

• The length of vertical curve is calculate by considering the sight

distance. To provide minimum sight distance, a certain permissible
rate of change of grade is determined and the length of the vertical
curve is calculated as follows;
Change of grade
Length of vertical curve 
rate of change of grade
algebraic difference of grade g1 - g 2
 
rate of change of grade r
• Where, g1 and g2= percentage of grade and r= rate of change

• Example: find the length of curve connecting two grades +0.5%

and -0.4% where rate of change of grade is 0.1%.
g1 - g 2 0.5 - - 0.4   30
Length of vertical curve  
r 0.1
 270m
 Vertical curves
• 1. Summit curve/crest curve
▫ Figure shows a summit
curve where an upgrade is
followed by a down grade
▫ Figure shows a summit
curve where a down grade is
followed by another
downgrade
• 2. Sag curve
▫ Figure shows a sag curve
where a down grade is
followed by and upgrade
▫ Figure shows a sage curve
where an upgrade is
followed by another
upgrade.
 Curves
Vertical Curves
Types of vertical curve:
1) An up grade followed 2) A down grade followed
by a down grade by an Up grade

Summit or Convex Sag or Concave

8
 Curves
Vertical Curves
Types of vertical curve:
3) An up grade followed 4) A down grade followed
by another up grade by another down grade

Sag or Concave Summit or Convex

9
 Vertical curve
Setting out of vertical curve

• The vertical curve may be set out by the following two methods
• The tangent correction method
• The chord gradient method
• The tangent correction method is preferred in practical situations as
it involves simple calculations and curve setting.
 Vertical curve
Setting out of vertical curve
• The tangent correction
method
• In figure shown, the tangent
correction or tangent offset is
the difference of elevation
between point P and P1, P being
point on the curve and P1 on the
gradient.
• Here X is taken to be
approximately equal to x1.
• The equation of curve is

y  cx 2
g1  g 2
• Where c is constant=
400l
• l is the half length of vertical
curve
 Vertical curve
Setting out of vertical curve
• Tangent correction at any point

y
 g1  g2   x12
 x  x1 
400l

y1 
 g1  g 2   x12
400l

y2 
 g1  g 2   x22
and so on
400l
• Where
• x1, x2,…=distance taken along the slope measured from tangent point
• g1 and g2 =percentage of grade
 Vertical curve
Points to be remembered
• Point to be remembered while calculating data required for setting
out vertical curve
• (a). The length of vertical
curve is assumed equal to
the length of two tangents
BT1+BT2=T1B1+B1T2=2l
l=length of half curve

• (b). The curve is assumed

equally long on either side
of the apex point.

• T1B1=B1T2=l so,
BT1=BT2=l
 Vertical curve
Points to be remembered

• (c). The length of vertical curve

is given by the formula:
L 1
g  g 2 
r
• (d). Chainage of T1=chainage of
B-BT1
• (e). Chainage of T2=Chainage
of B+BT2
• (f). RL of T1  RL of B  l g1
100
g
• (g). RL of T2  RL of B  l 2
100
• (h). RL of B2  RL of T1  RL of T2  / 2

• (i). RL of B1  RL of B  RL of B2  / 2
 Vertical curve
Points to be remembered

• (j). The tangent correction at distance x

g  g2 2
yx  1 x
400l
• (k). The tangent correction is deduced from the RL of a point on the
grade to get the corresponding point on the curve

• (l). A setting out table is prepared.

• (m). Since the survey is symmetrical, tangent corrections are

calculated for one side of the point of intersection. The tangent
corrections for the other side will be exactly same.
 Numerical 12

• Calculate the RL of the various station pegs on a vertical curve

connecting two grades of +0.6% and -0.6%. The chainage and the
RL of intersection point are 550 and 325.5m respectively. The rate
of change of grade is 0.1% per 30 m.
• Solution:

• (a). Length of curve

L
g1  g2   0.6  0.6 30
r 0.1
L  360m

• Length of curve on eider

side of apex is 180m.
 Numerical 12

• (b). Chainage of T1=chainage of B-BT1

• (c). =550-180=370m
• (d). Chainage of T2=Chainage of B+BT2
• =550+180=730m

g1 0.6  180
• (e). RL of T1  RL of B  l  325.50 -  324.42m
100 100

• (f). RL of T2  RL of B  l g 2  325.5  0.6  180  324.42m

100 100
• (g). RL of B2  RL of T1  RL of T2  / 2  324.42  324.42 / 2  324.42m

• (h). RL of B1  RL of B  RL of B2  / 2  325.5  324.42 / 2  324.96m

 Numerical 12

• (h). Tangent correction at the center

=325.5-324.96=0.54m
(i). Tangent correction are found out at 30 m interval from the
relation
g  g2 2
y 1 x
400l

Where, l being the half curve length

 Numerical 12

g1  g2 2 0.6   0.6 2
• Tangent correction at Point 1: y1  x1  30  0.015m
400l 400180
g  g2 2 0.6   0.6 2
• Tangent correction at Point 2: y2  1 x2  60  0.060m
400l 400180
g1  g2 2 0.6   0.6 2
y
• Tangent correction at Point 3: 3  x3  90  0.135m
400l 400180
g1  g2 2 0.6   0.6
• Tangent correction at Point 4: y4  x4  1202  0.240m
400l 400180
g  g2 2 0.6   0.6
• Tangent correction at Point 5: y5  1 x5  1502  0.375m
400l 400180
g  g2 2 0.6   0.6
• Tangent correction at Point 6: y6  1 x6  1802  0.540m
400l 400180
Checked
 Numerical 12

• RL on Grades • RL on curves

• RL of Point 1=RL of T1+rise in 30m • RL of Point 1=RL of Point 1 on

• =324.42+0.6(30)/100=324.6m tangent –tangent correction at point 1
• RL of Point 2=RL of P1+rise in 30m • RL of Point 1=324.6-0.015=324.585m
• =324.6+0.6(30)/100=324.78m • RL of Point 2=324.78-0.06=324.72m
• RL of Point 3=RL of P2+rise in 30m • RL of Point 3=324.96-
• =324.78+0.6(30)/100=324.96m 0.135=324.585m
• RL of Point 4=RL of P3+rise in 30m • RL of Point 4=325.14-0.24=324.9m
• =324.96+0.6(30)/100=325.14m • RL of Point 5=325.32-
• RL of Point 5=RL of P4+rise in 30m 0.375=324.945m
• =325.14+0.6(30)/100=325.32m • RL of Point 6=325.5-0.54=324.96m
• RL of Point 6=RL of P5+rise in 30m
(RL of B1). Checked.
• =325.32+0.6(30)/100=325.5m

(RL of B). Checked.

 Numerical 12

Point Chainage Grade RL Tangent correction Curve RL Remarks

T1 370 324.42 0 234.42 Starting of curve

1 400 324.60 0.015 324.585

2 430 324.78 0.060 324.72
3 460 324.96 0.135 324.825
4 490 325.14 0.240 324.900
5 520 325.32 0.375 324.945
6 550 325.50 0.540 324.960 Vertex
5 580 325.32 .375 324.945
4 610 325.14 0.240 324.900
3 640 324.96 0.135 324.825
2 670 324.78 0.060 324.720
1 700 324.60 0.015 324.585
T2 730 324.42 0 324.42 Finishing point
• Calculate the RL of various station pegs on a vertical
curve connecting two uniform grades of +0.5% and -
0.7% .The chain age and RL of intersection point are
500m and 350.75m respectively. Take the rate of
change of grade as 0.1% per 30m.
 Numerical 13

• Calculate the RL of the various station pegs on a vertical curve

connecting two grades of +0.5% and -0.3%. The chainage and the
RL of intersection point are 550 and 325.5m respectively. The rate
of change of grade is 0.1% per 30 m.