3.

5 An equal-tangent crest curve has been designed for 70 mi/h to connect a +2% initial grade and a - 1% final
grade for a new vehicle that has a 3 ft driver’s eye height; the curve was designed to avoid an object that is 1
ft high. Standard practical stopping distance design was used but, unlike current design standards, the vehicle
was assumed to make a 0.5 g stop, although driver reactions are assumed to be the same as in current highway
design standards. If the PVC of the curve is at elevation 848 ft and station 43 + 48, what is the station and
elevation of the high point of the curve?

1- Determine the stopping sight distance (SSD) for the vertical curve:
𝑉1 2
𝑆𝑆𝐷 = + (𝑉1 × 𝑡𝑟 )
𝑎
2g ( ± 𝐺)
g

Here, 𝑆𝑆𝐷 is the stopping sight distance for the vertical in feet, 𝑉1 is the initial vehicle speed in ft/s, g is
the gravitational constant, 𝑎 is the deceleration rate of the vehicle, 𝐺 is the roadway grade in percent per
100, and 𝑡𝑟 is the perception or reaction time in seconds.

Assume roadway grade as zero.

Substitute 11.2 ft/s2 for 𝑎 , 2.5 s for 𝑡𝑟 , 0 for 𝐺, 16.10 ft/s2 for g , and 70 mi/h for 𝑉1 :

mi 2
(70 ) mi
𝑆𝑆𝐷 = h + (70 × 2.5 𝑠 )
ft h
ft 11.2 𝑠2
2 × 32.2 2 ( ± 0)
s ft
32.2 2
s

mi ft 2
(70 × 1.467 ) mi ft
= h s + ((70 × 1.467 ) × 2.5 𝑠 ) = 470.77 ft + 256.73 ft
ft h s
ft 11.2 𝑠2
2 × 32.2 2 ( ± 0)
s ft
32.2 2
s

= 727.5 ft

2- Determine the horizontal distance required to effect a 1 % change in the slope of the vertical curve:
𝐿𝑚 = 𝐾𝐴
𝐿𝑚
𝐾= … … … … … (1)
𝐴

Here, K is the horizontal distance required to effect a 1 % change in the slope of the vertical curve.

3- Determine the minimum length of the vertical curve assuming that the length of the vertical curve is
greater than the SSD:

𝐴 × 𝑆𝑆𝐷 2
𝐿𝑚 = 2 … … …. (2)
200(√𝐻1 + √𝐻2 )

Here, 𝐿𝑚 is the minimum length of the vertical curve in feet, 𝐴 is the absolute value of the difference in
grades, expressed as a percentage, 𝐻1 is the height of the driver eye, and 𝐻2 is the height of the object to
be avoided by stopping before a collision.
 Substitute Equation (2) in Equation (1):

𝐴 × 𝑆𝑆𝐷 2
2
200(√𝐻1 + √𝐻2 )
𝐾=
𝐴

𝐴 × 𝑆𝑆𝐷 2
= 2
𝐴 × 200(√𝐻1 + √𝐻2 )

𝑆𝑆𝐷 2
= 2
200(√𝐻1 + √𝐻2 )
Substitute 727.5 ft for SSD, 3 ft for 𝐻1 , and 1 ft for 𝐻2 :

727.52
𝐾= 2 = 354.5
200(√3 + √1)

4- Determine the horizontal distance required to effect a 1 % change in the slope of the vertical curve:
𝐿𝑚 = 𝐾𝐴 = 𝐾 × (|𝐺1 − 𝐺2 |)

Substitute 354.5 for 𝐾, + 2 % for 𝐺1 , and -1 % for 𝐺2 :

𝐿𝑚 = 354.5 × (|2.00 − (−1.00)|) = 1063.5 ft

5- Determine the stationing of the high point:

𝑥ℎ𝑙 = 𝐾 × |𝐺1 |

Here, 𝑥ℎ𝑙 is the distance from the point of the vertical curve (PVC) to the high or low point in feet.

Substitute 354.5 for 𝐾 and + 2.0 for 𝐺1 :

𝑥ℎ𝑙 = 354.5 × |+2.00| = 709 ft
The high point is located at 7+09 stations away from the PVC.

The stationing of high point is 43 + 48 plus 7 + 09, which is 50 + 57

6- Determine the stationing of the high point on the vertical curve.

Show the equation of the vertical curve:
𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 … … … (1)

Here, 𝑦 is the roadway elevation at distance 𝑥 from the beginning of the vertical curve in stations or feet,
𝑥 is the distance from the beginning of the vertical curve in stations or feet, 𝑎 and 𝑏 are the coefficients,
and 𝑐 is the elevation of the PVC.

7- Determine the value of the coefficient 𝑏 using the relation:

𝑏 = 𝐺𝑖
Substitute + 2.0 % for 𝐺𝑖 :
𝑏 = +2.0

8- Determine the value of the coefficient 𝑎 using the relation:

 𝐺𝑓 −𝐺𝑖
𝑎=
2𝐿
Substitute + 2.0 % for 𝐺𝑖 , -1.0 % for 𝐺𝑓 , and 1063.5 ft for 𝐿:
−1.0 − (+2.0)
𝑎= = −0.14
2 × 10.64

Substitute -0.14 for 𝑎, + 2.0 for 𝑏 , 848 ft for 𝑐 , and 7.09 for 𝑥 in Equation (1)

𝑦 = (−0.14 × 7.09)2 + (+2 × 7.09) + 848 = 863.17 ft

Thus,
The stationing of high point is 50 + 57
The elevation of the high point is 863.17 ft