VERTICAL
ALIGNMENT
The vertical alignment of a
roadway consists of straight
sections known as grades or
tangents connected by vertical
curves.
The basic tasks involved in the
design of the vertical alignment
therefore consist of the selection
of appropriate grades for the
tangents and the design of
The selection of the appropriate
grade depends on the topography
on which the travelway is to be
located and the standards given
for the specific mode.
The shape of the vertical curve
for each of these modes is the
parabola.
There are two types of vertical
curves: crest vertical curves and
Types of vertical curves:
Uphill or downhill slopes
Crest vertical curves – the entry
tangent grade is greater than the
exit tangent grade.
Sag vertical curves - the entry
tangent grade is lower than the
exit tangent grade.
D e s i g n o f H i g h w a y Ve r t i c a l C u r v e
s
The main criterion used for designing
highway vertical curves is the provision
of the minimum stopping sight distance.
Two conditions exist for the minimum
length of highway vertical curves:
(1) when the sight distance is greater
than the length of the curve; and
(2) when the sight distance is less than
the length of the curve.
Considering the properties of the
parabola
For crest vertical curves, the minimum length
depends on the sight distance, the height of the
driver’s eye, and the height of the object to be
seen over the crest of the curve, as illustrated in
the figure.
The minimum length is given by the formula
Forstopping sight distance, the height of object is normally
taken to be 0.150 m. For passing sight distance, the height of
object used by AASHTO is 1.300 m.
Heightof eye is assumed to be 1.070 m. Inserting these
standard values for h1 and h2, Equation (4.4) may be
reduced to
Forsag vertical curves, stopping sight distance
is based on the distance illuminated by the
headlights at night. Design standards are based
on an assumed headlight height of 0.600 m and
an upward divergence of the headlight beam of
1°.
For sag vertical curves, the formula is
In some cases, sag vertical curves with a small total
grade change can be sharp enough to cause discomfort
without violating sight distance standards. In this case, it
is necessary to establish a comfort criterion of the form
In some cases, sag vertical curves with a small total
grade change can be sharp enough to cause discomfort
without violating sight distance standards. In this case, it
is necessary to establish a comfort criterion of the form
where r is the rate of change of grade, a is the
maximum radial acceleration permitted, and y is
speed.
There is no general agreement as to the maximum
value of radial acceleration that can be tolerated
without producing discomfort. AASHTO suggests a
value of 0.3 m/s², and suggests the standard
where L = length of vertical curve, m
A = g2 - g1, percent
V = design speed, km/h
Minimum vertical curve standards for
highways may also be based on
appearance.
Appearance standards vary from
agency to agency.
Current California standards, for
instance, require a minimum vertical
curve length of 60 m where grade
breaks are less than 2 percent or
design speeds are less than 60 km/h.
Where the grade break is greater than
2 percent and the design speed is
greater than 60 km/h, the minimum
vertical curve is given by
L = 2V
where L in the vertical curve length
in meters and V is the design speed
in km/h.
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
Determine the minimum length of a
crest vertical curve between a +0.5%
grade and a -1.0% grade for a road
with a 100-km/h design speed. The
vertical curve must provide 190-m
stopping sight distance and meet the
California appearance criteria. Round
up to the next greatest 20 m interval.
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
Determine the minimum length of a sag
vertical curve between a -0.7% grade and
a +0.5% grade for a road with a 110 km/h
design speed. The vertical curve must
provide 220 m stopping sight distance and
meet the California appearance criteria
and the AASHTO comfort standard. Round
up to the next greatest 20 m interval.
Vertical curve lengths may be limited by
the need to provide clearances over or
under objects such as overpasses or
drainage structures.
In the case of sag vertical curves passing
over objects or crest vertical curves
passing under them, the required
clearances establish minimum lengths; in
the case of crest vertical curves passing
over objects or sags passing under them,
the clearances establish maximum
In the figure, C represents the critical clearance, z
the horizontal distance from the P.I. to the critical
point, and y’ the offset between the critical point
and the tangent passing through the BVC.
The equation for the offset is
The equation for the offset is
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
A vertical curve joins a -1.2% grade to a
+0.8% grade. The P.I. of the vertical curve
is at station 75 + 00 and elevation 50.90 m
above sea level. The centerline of the
roadway must clear a pipe located at
station 75 + 40 by 0.80 m. The elevation of
the top of the pipe is 51.10 m above sea
level. What is the minimum length of the
vertical curve that can be used?
Vertical tangents with different grades
are joined by vertical curves such as the
one shown in the figure.
Vertical curves are thus of the form
where g2 is the grade just beyond the
end of the vertical curve (EVC) and L is the
length of the curve.
EXAMPLE PROBLEM
A -2.5% grade is connected to a
+1.0% grade by means of a 180 m
vertical curve. The P.I. station is 100 +
00 and the P.I. elevation is 100.0 m
above sea level. What are the station
and elevation of the lowest point on
the vertical curve?
