1.

Simple Curve
The angle of intersection of a circular curve is 36° 30'. Compute the radius if the external distance is
12.02 m.

Solution:
𝑹
cos (I/2) =
𝑹+𝑬

𝑹
Cos 18”15’ = 𝑹+𝑬
Rcos18”15’ + 12.02cos18”15’ = R
R – Rcos18”15’ = 12.02 cos18”15’
R(1 – cos 18” 15’) = 12.02 cos 18” 15’
𝟏𝟐.𝟎𝟐𝒄𝒐𝒔𝟏𝟖”𝟏𝟓’
R=
𝟏 – 𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝟏𝟖” 𝟏𝟓’
R = 226.04 m

2. Symmetrical Parabolic Curve

A highway engineer must stake a symmetrical vertical curve where an entering grade of +0.80% meets
an existing grade of -0.40% at station 10 + 100 which has an elevation of 140.36 m. If the maximum
allowable change in grade per 20 m station is -0.20%, what is the length of the vertical curve?
Solution:
Total change in grade A:
A = g1 – g2
A = 0.80 – (-0.40)
A = 1.20%
Number of meter-stations, n:
𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆,𝑨
n=
𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓−𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔
𝟏.𝟐𝟎%
n= 𝟎.𝟐𝟎%
n = 6 stations

Length of vertical curve, L:

L = number of meter-stations x length of meter-station
L = 6 x 20
L = 120m
 3. Reversed Curve to Connect Three Traversed Lines
A reversed curve with diverging tangent is to be designed to connect to three traversed lines for the
portion of the proposed highway. The lines AB is 185 m, BC is 122.40 m, and CD is 285 m. The azimuth
are Due East, 242°, and 302° respectively. The following are the cost index and specification:

Type of Pavement = Item 311 (Portland Cement Concrete Pavement)

Number of Lanes = Two Lanes
Width of Pavement = 3.05 m per lane
Thickness of Pavement = 280 mm
Unit Cost = P1,800 per square meter

It is necessary that the PRC (Point of Reversed Curvature) must be one-fourth the distance BC from B.

1. Find the radius of the first curve.

2. Find the radius of the first curve.
3. Find the cost of the concrete pavement from A to D.

Solution:

𝟏 𝟏
T1 = BC = (122.4) = 30.6 m
𝟐 𝟒
T2 = 122.4 – 30.6 = 92.8 m
𝑻𝟏 𝟑𝟎.𝟔
R1 = = = 122.73 m
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝟏𝟒° 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝟏𝟒°

𝑻𝟐 𝟗𝟏.𝟖
R2 = = = 159.00 m
𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝟑𝟎° 𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝟑𝟎°

Total length of road from A to D

𝟐𝝅(𝟏𝟐𝟐.𝟕𝟑)(𝟐𝟖°) 𝝅(𝟏𝟓𝟗)(𝟔𝟎°)
L = 154.40 + 𝟏𝟖𝟎°
+ 𝟏𝟖𝟎°
+ 193.20

L = 154.40 + 59.98 + 166.50 + 193.20

L = 574.08 m

Area of road pavement

𝝅[(𝟏𝟏𝟗.𝟐𝟖+𝟔.𝟏𝟎)𝟐 −𝟏𝟏𝟗.𝟔𝟖𝟐 ](𝟐𝟖°) 𝝅[(𝟏𝟓𝟓.𝟗𝟓+𝟔.𝟏𝟎)𝟐 −𝟏𝟓𝟓.𝟗𝟓𝟐 ](𝟔𝟎°)

A = 154.60(6.10) + 𝟑𝟔𝟎°
+ 𝟑𝟔𝟎°

+193.20(6.10) + 193.20(6.10)

A = 2720.56 𝒎𝟐

Cost of concrete pavement

C = 1,800(2750.56) = P 4,897,008
 4. Horizontal Curves

A horizontal curve has a radius of 320 m, and deflection angle of Δ = 24 o.

Compute L, T, M, E, C

Solution:

𝟐𝟒
T = 320 tan( 𝟐
.)= 68.02 m (Tangent)

𝟐𝟒
M = 320° - 320 cos( 𝟐
.)= 6.99 m (Middle Distance)

𝟐𝟒
E = 320 /𝒄𝒐𝒔( 𝟐
)- 320 = 7.15 m (External Distance)

Chord = 2x320xsin( 24 /2.)= 133.06 m (Chord)

L = 320 ( 24 /(180/π))= 134.04 m (Length)

5 . Symmetrical Parabolic Curve
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.

Solution:
From the grade diagram:
𝑺𝟏 𝟏𝟔𝟎
= +0.02
.𝟎𝟔 .𝟎𝟔

S1=120 m

Horizontal distance from the lowest point to point Q:

sQ=S1−40=120−40

sQ=80m

Grade at point Q by ratio and proportion of triangles:

𝒈𝑸 𝟎.𝟎𝟔
=
𝒔𝑸 𝑺𝟏

𝟎.𝟎𝟔𝒔𝑸 𝟎.𝟎𝟔(𝟖𝟎)
gQ = 𝑺𝟏 = 𝟏𝟐𝟎
gQ = 0.04
Elevation of PC:

Elev PC = Elev V + 80(0.06)

Elev PC = 14.375 + 80(0.06)
Elev PC=19.175 m

Difference in elevation between PC and Q:

DEPC−Q=shaded area in the grade diagram
𝟏
DEPC−Q=𝟐(gQ+0.06)(40)
𝟏
DEPC−Q=𝟐(0.04+0.06)(40)

DEPC−Q=2 m

Elevation of the first quarter point Q:

Elev Q=Elev PC−DEPC−Q
Elev Q=19.175−2

Elev Q=17.175 m