CE408 - HIGHWAY

AND RAILROAD
ENGINEERING

MODULE 3.
GEOMETRIC
DESIGN FOR
HIGHWAYS AND
RAILWAYS
ENGR. KENNETH FAJARDO
Faculty-in-charge
 3. Geometric Design for
Highways and Railways

Agenda
1. Horizontal Curves
2. Vertical Curves
3. Stopping Sight Distance and
Superelevation (reading material)

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

IMPORTANCE
To reduce speed of vehicles (for safety driving)

TYPES OF HORIZONTAL CURVES

1. Simple
2. Compound
3. Reverse
4. Spiral

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

SIMPLE CURVES

• Forward and Backward Tangents (yellow lines)

• PI – Point of Intersection
• PC – Point of Curvature
• PT – Point of Tangency
• L – Length of the curve
• R – Radius of the curve
• I – Angle of Intersection/Central Angle
• T – Tangent Distance
• C – Long Chord
• M – Middle Ordinate
• E – External Distance
• D – Degree of the Curve

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

DEGREE OF CURVE (D)

It is the measure of the sharpness or flatness of the curve

TWO DEFINITIONS:
1. Arc definition
• Length of the curve subtended by a central angle of D degrees in one
full station

2. Chord definition
• Length of the chord subtended by a central angle of D degrees in one
full station

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

DEGREE OF CURVE: ARC DEFINITION

From the figure,

𝐷 1 𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
=
360 2𝜋𝑅
Full station:
20 meters
100 feet
3600
R= 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
𝜋𝐷
18000
R= 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡
2021 – CE 408 𝜋𝐷 6
3.1 Horizontal Curves

DEGREE OF CURVE: CHORD DEFINITION

From the figure,

𝐷 1/2 𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

𝑠𝑖𝑛 =
2 𝑅

10
R= 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
𝐷
𝑠𝑖𝑛
2
50
R= 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡
𝐷
𝑠𝑖𝑛
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3.1 Horizontal Curves

LENGTH OF CURVE (L)

𝐿 𝐼
=
2𝜋𝑅 360
𝜋𝑅𝐼
𝐿=
180
TANGENT DISTANCE (T)
𝐼 𝑇
𝑡𝑎𝑛 =
2 𝑅
𝐼
𝑇 = 𝑅𝑡𝑎𝑛
2
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3.1 Horizontal Curves

CHORD DISTANCE (C)

𝐼 𝐶ൗ2
𝑠𝑖𝑛 =
2 𝑅
𝐼
𝐶 = 2𝑅𝑠𝑖𝑛
2
MIDDLE ORDINATE (M)
𝐼
𝑅 = 𝑅𝑐𝑜𝑠 + 𝑀
2
𝐼
𝑀 = 𝑅(1 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠 )
2
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3.1 Horizontal Curves

EXTERNAL DISTANCE (E)

𝐼 𝐸+𝑀
𝑠𝑖𝑛 =
2 𝑇
𝐼
𝑇𝑠𝑖𝑛 − 𝑀 = 𝐸
2

𝐼
𝐸 = 𝑅(𝑠𝑒𝑐 − 1)
2

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

SAMPLE PROBLEM

The tangents of a simple curve have bearings of N 750 12′ E

and S 780 36′ E respectively. A three-degree curve is
constructed using the tangents. Determine the following:
angle of intersection, radius of the curve (arc and chord
bases), length of curve, chord distance, tangent distance,
middle ordinate and external distance. Use arc basis in
computing distances.

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

SOLUTION
• Solve for angle of intersection (I)

• Solve for Radius (Arc basis)

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

SOLUTION
• Solve for Radius (Chord basis)

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

SOLUTION
• I = 260 12’ • Solve for Length of Curve
• R = 381.972m

• Solve for Tangent Distance

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

SOLUTION
• I = 260 12’ • Solve for Middle Ordinate
• R = 381.972m

• Solve for External Distance

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 Questions?

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

COMPOUND CURVES

• PCC – Point of Compound Curvature

• T – Common Tangent
• I – Angle of Intersection
R2
• Other parts of simple curve

R1

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

SAMPLE PROBLEM

The forward tangent of a 4-degree curve is 200 m. If the

length of common tangent of the two curves is 500 m and
the middle ordinate of the second curve is 30 m, find the
stationing of the PT if the stationing of PC is STA 1+200.

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3.1 Horizontal Curves
L1
SOLUTION
Strategy: Get length of curve L1 and
L2, add that to our station in PC

• Solve for the 2nd Tangent

L2

Required: Station of PT

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

SOLUTION
• Solve for the R2 and I2 simultaneously

2 2 Required: Station of PT

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

SOLUTION
• Solve for Radius of 1st curve • Solve for the Angle of Intersection
of the first curve

Required: Station of PT

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3.1 Horizontal Curves
L1
SOLUTION
• Solve for the Stationing of PT

L2

Required: Station of PT

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

SOLUTION
• Solve for the Stationing of PT

Required: Station of PT

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3.1 Horizontal Curves
L1
SOLUTION
• Solve for the Stationing of PT

L2
( )

Required: Station of PT

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 Questions?

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

REVERSE CURVES

• PRC – Point of Reverse Curvature

• T – Common Tangent
• I – Angle of Intersection
• Other parts of simple curve

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

SAMPLE PROBLEM

Two parallel tangents 12 m apart are connected by a

reverse curve of equal radii. If the length of the chord from
PC to PT is 140 m, determine the total length of the
reversed curve.

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

SOLUTION
Strategy: Solve for R and I, then get L

• Solve for I

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3.1 Horizontal Curves

SOLUTION
• Solve for R

• Solve for total length of curve, Lc

Required: Station of PT

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 Questions?

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3.2 Vertical Curves

IMPORTANCE
To provide a smooth transition between
two vertical tangent roads

TYPES OF VERTICAL CURVES

1. Symmetrical
• Summit curve
• Sag curve
2. Unsymmetrical

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3.2 Vertical Curves

SUMMIT (CREST) CURVE

SAG CURVE

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3.2 Vertical Curves
• Forward and Backward Tangents
• PI or VPI – Vertical Point of
Intersection
• PC or VPC – Vertical Point of
Curvature
• PT or VPT – Vertical Point of
Tangency
• L – Length of the curve

• S1 – Horizontal distance from PC

to summit or low point
• S2 – Horizontal distance from PT
to summit or low point

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3.2 Vertical Curves
• h1 – vertical distance from PC to
summit or low point
• h2 – vertical distance from PT to
summit or low point

• g1 – grade of the first tangent

from PC to PI (%)
• g2 – grade of the second tangent
from PI to PT (%)
• A – change in grade from PC to
PT

• a – vertical distance of PC to PI
• b – vertical distance of PT to PI
• H – distance of PI to the curve

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3.2 Vertical Curves

PROPERTIES OF VERTICAL CURVES

• Length of parabolic curve L is the
horizontal distance between VPC and
VPT
• VPI is midway between VPC and VPT
• The vertical distance between any two
points on the curve is equal to area
under the grade diagram. c = Area.
• Vertical curves are parabolic in nature

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3.2 Vertical Curves

PARABOLA
• Parabolic curve is suitable in
connecting road grades
• General form of the parabola

y = ax 2 + bx + c
• The first derivative is the slope
of the parabolic curve

y′ = 2ax + b

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3.2 Vertical Curves

PARABOLA
• The slope of the tangent line at
VPC is the grade of the first
tangent, g1

y ′ 0 = 𝑏 = 𝑔1
• The slope of the tangent line at
VPT is the grade of the second
tangent, g2
y ′ L = 2𝑎𝐿 + 𝑏 = 𝑔2
2𝑎𝐿 + 𝑔1 = 𝑔2
𝑔2 − 𝑔1
2021 – CE 408 𝑎= 37
2𝐿
3.2 Vertical Curves

PARABOLA
• At VPC, the height of the curve
is equal to the elevation of VPC
y = ax 2 + bx + c
y 0 = 𝑐 = 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑉𝑃𝐶
• Hence, the derived general
equation of the vertical curve
(applies both summit and sag
curve)
𝑟𝑥 2 |𝑔2 − 𝑔1 |
𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑋 = 𝐸𝑙𝑒𝑣𝑉𝑃𝐶 + 𝑔1 𝑥 ± 𝑟= ; 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
2 𝐿
+ if sag curve
2021 – CE 408 - if summit curve 38
3.2 Vertical Curves

FORMULAS IN VERTICAL CURVES

g2

𝑔1 𝑔2
𝑆1 = 𝐿 𝑆2 = 𝐿
𝑔1 + 𝑔2 𝑔1 + 𝑔2

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3.2 Vertical Curves

FORMULAS IN VERTICAL CURVES

• Vertical distance from VPC (or VPT)
to summit (or low point)
1 1
ℎ1 = 𝑔1 𝑆1 ℎ2 = 𝑔2 𝑆2
2 2
• Location of VPI wrt VPC and VPT
𝐿 𝐿
𝑋𝑉𝑃𝐼 = 𝑋𝑉𝑃𝐶 + 𝑋𝑉𝑃𝐼 = 𝑋𝑉𝑃𝑇 −
2 2
• Vertical distance of VPC or VPT wrt VPI
𝐿 𝐿
𝑎 = 𝑔1 𝑏 = 𝑔2
2 2
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3.2 Vertical Curves

FORMULAS IN VERTICAL CURVES

• Vertical distance of VPI to the curve
𝐿
𝐻 = (𝑔1 + 𝑔2 )
8
• Squared property of parabola

𝑦 𝐻
2 = 2
𝑥 𝐿/2

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3.2 Vertical Curves

SAMPLE PROBLEM

A descending grade of 6% and an ascending grade of 2%

intersect at Sta 12 + 200 km whose elevation is at 14.375 m.
The two grades are to be connected by a parabolic curve,
160 m long. Find the elevation of the first quarter point on
the curve.

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3.2 Vertical Curves

SOLUTION

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3.2 Vertical Curves
Strategy: Get Elevation of
SOLUTION VPC then subtract area A1

Solve for location of the lowest point:

Solve for the horizontal distance of lowest point and quarter point:

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3.2 Vertical Curves
Strategy: Get Elevation of
SOLUTION VPC then subtract area A1

Solve for the grade at point Q:

Solve for the Elevation of VPC:

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3.2 Vertical Curves
Strategy: Get Elevation of
SOLUTION VPC then subtract area A1

Solve for the vertical distance (difference in

elevation) between VPC and first quarter
point:
𝑏1 + 𝑏2 ℎ
𝐴𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑝𝑒𝑧𝑜𝑖𝑑 = 𝐷𝐸𝑉𝑃𝐶−𝑄 = 𝐴1 =
2

Solve for the Elevation of Point Q:

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 Questions?

2021 – CE 408 47
3.2 Vertical Curves

SAMPLE PROBLEM

The rate of change of the grade of a parabolic summit

curve is 0.5% per station. Determine the length of curve,
elevation of the summit, the location of the summit and the
vertical distance from VPI to the curve if the grade of
ascending and descending tangents are 5% and -2.5%
respectively. The elevation of VPT is 20 m.

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3.2 Vertical Curves

SOLUTION

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3.2 Vertical Curves

SOLUTION
Solve for the length of the curve:

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3.2 Vertical Curves

SOLUTION
Solve the location of the summit:

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3.2 Vertical Curves

SOLUTION
Solve the elevation of the summit:

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 Questions?

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BONUS ACTIVITY
Please get your calculator 🧮📱📱
2021 – CE 408

THANK YOU
Engr. Kenneth Fajardo
[email protected]
Batangas State University - Alangilan

55