Chapter 4 Parabolic Curves 41. Uses Parabolic, instead of circular, arcs may be used for horizontal curves. Where the curves are flat, there is no discernible difference between the two types However, a parabola cannot be staked out readily by the deflection-angle method. Moreover, determination of the radius of curvature at any point requires higher mathematics, thus complicating superelevation and related calculations. Also, parabolic alignment does not permit making simple right- ofway descriptions. For these reasons parabolic arcs on horizontal curves, are restricted to such locations as park drives and walks, where they may be easily located by tape alone. For curves in a vertical plane the situstion isthe reverse, Here, parabolic ares are almost always used because elevations can be computed much more easily than on circular ares. The vertical curve used is a pertion of a vertical- axis parabola, the particular parabola and portion being chosen with regard to certain practical considerations. 6s66 PARABOLIC CURVES 4-2, Equal-Tangent Vertical Curve Figure 4-1 portrays a vertical-axis parabola, PP’, of indefinite length. The general equation of such a parabola with respect to random rectangular axes, is y= ax? + bx + c, The magnitude of a controls sharpness of the parabola; its sign controls the orientation, When a is positive the parabola is turned upward; when negative, downward. ‘The equal-tangent vertical curve used in route alignment is simply a portion ofa vertical-axis parabola selected so its length and tangent gradients are best suited to the design requirements, Such a selection is represented in Fig. 41 by curve AB which has the numerically unequal tangent gradients G, and G;. Grades rising in the direction of stationing are positive; falling rads are negative. It is convenient to use the beginning of a vertical curve (point 4) as the ‘origin of x coordinates. Term c then becomes the elevation of point A mea- sured above a chosen datum for elevations. The slope dy/dx of any tangent is Zax + b, But at point 4, x = 0; consequently term bin the general parabola equation equals the slope at 4, the tangent gradient Gy, “The second derivative d#y/dx? of the general function y = ax? + bx +c equals 2a, a constant. This means that a tangent to a vertical-axis parabola changes a constant amount of grade for each increment of distance. (In con- trast, a tangent to a circular are changes direction a constant amount of ‘angle for equal inerements of distance along the arc.) The useful consequence is that the rate of change af grade on a vertical curve is constant, and equals 2a, per station, On a vertical curve the total change in direction between the profile grades is Gz — G,, termed A%, If this change is accomplished on a curve L ft long, the constant rate of change must be 1006, — G,) _ 100.4 a8 en) y (Elev.) | Origin of Pp i curve AB \[ axis of parabola Elevation datum Figure 4-1 4-2, EQUAL-TANGENT VERTICAL CURVE 67 with G and A in percent, L in fet. It is convenient to think of 2a as a measure of the sharpness of a vertical curve. In this respect itis analogous to D for a circular curve, Another measure of curvature that is used in sight-distance calculations (see Chapter 8) is the term K, which equals L.+ A. This is the horizontal distance in feet required to effect a 1% change in gradient on a vertical curve. Therefore (#2) ‘The practical formula for an equal tangent vertical curve is therefore yaaX?+G,X +e (43) where y is elevation in feet, X is the horizontal distance in feet from point A to the point being computed, G, is the incoming grace in percent, and a is ‘one-half the rate of change of grade in percent. __The terms in equations 4-1 and 4-3 have the graphical significance shown in Fig. 4-2. Tangents drawn from any two points on a vertical-axis parabola abvays intersect midway between the points of tangency. This is the reason why the portion of a vertical-axis parabola used in route alignment is called an “equal-tangent vertical curve.” For purpose of computation, the length L of vertical curve is not the distance along the curve; it is the difference in sta- tioning (foot units) between the ends of the curve regardless of the signs or ‘numerical values of the tangent gradients. Thus in Fig. 4-2 the length L is the horizontal projection of AB (600 ft), and the projection of ¥ lies 1,7 (200 f) from both 4 and B. The first term of equation 4-3, aX, isthe offset in fet fom the incoming srade line AV, leading to the rule of offets. Vera! from a tng ta parla are propo 0 e quar ‘the distances from the point of tangency. * Figure 4-2. Equal-tangent vertical curve.68 PARABOLIC CURVES. For the 600-ft curve in Fig. 4-2, the term aX? gives offsets from AB’ of 4a for the first station, 4a for the second station, 9a, 164, 25a, and 36a; those from BV(extended) are the same. In fact, offets depend oily'on a and X and are identical for every tangent drawn to the curve. ‘The second and third term in equation 4-3, G,X + ¢, yields elevations on the incoming tangent extended) above or below the curve point at distance X. ‘The second term by itself gives the elevation rise or fall from the curve's beginning point A to the required tangent point. ‘The parabola also has the important characteristic that the external distance E and the middle ordinate M are equal. (This is not quite true for a circular are, See Fig. 2-1.) In Fig. 4-2, VC = 48'B (similar triangles), From the rule of offsets, VM = }B°B. Thus, VM = MC. ‘The term G, ~ G; is the amount, in percent, by which the tangent grades diverge. Itis analogous tothe angle I of simple curve, Formulas are simplified by replacing G; ~ G, by the term A, defined previously as the algebraic difference in grades. In Fig. 42, B'B equals the amount the grades diverge in the distance 4L, or B'B = (L/2) (Gy ~ G,)/100, L being in foot units. VM = 4B°B, the extemal distance, designated as E, is L AL =(£\e,-6) = (4 E (&e G) =i 44) 4-2, Methods of Calculation of Vertical Curves ‘The object of vertical-curve calculations is to determine the elevations at specified stations on the designed grade line, These elevations are nezded for cross sectioning prior to grading and for setting construction grade stakes. Before starting the calculations, a simple sketch should be drawn which shows G, and G; in their correct relations with regard to sign and magnitude. This will show to which of the six possible types the vertical curve conforms, ‘and will help in making a common-sense check of the results. ‘The calculation is simpler than for horizontal circular curves; no trigono- ‘metric formulas or special curve tables are needed. Either the algebraic methoo ‘of the method of chord gradients may be used. 4-4, Algebraic Method ‘The algebraic method (also called the tangent-offset method) uses the basic forimula 4-3. It is accomplished very quickly by an electronic pocket calculator as in the following example. Gtven: Sta, V = 73440; Blev. V = 254.16; G, = +52%; G, = +08% L= 5501. 4-5. CHORD-GRADIENT METHOD 69 can STATION COMPUTATIONS _ (A) 70 + 65 254.16 — 2.75 x 52=¢ n + 5.2 x 0.35 — 0.4 x 0.357 ued 45.2 « 135-04 x 1,35? B 45.2 x 2.35 ~0.4 x 2.35? = 249.87 4 +52 x 3.35 —0.4 x 3,357 = 252.19 ace + 5.2 x 4.35 ~ 0.4 x 4.35? = 254.91 16 c+ 5.2 x $.35—0.4 x 5.357 = 256.23 B)W+IS #5255 ~04x S55 = 256.16 Find 20 fom formula 4,24 (408 ~ $2) % 100+ $0 = —0 * 100 + 550 = -0.8% sta, ora 0.4% per sta. "are Find Elev. tom 25416 — 275 x 52 = 23886 and sore this aloe in computer memory. Tea fd th curve elevations wih he i of forma in the expression: Curve Elev. = Elev. A + G,X + aX?. As each curve sent emp rd ie ation om th pin so iataly cleared when Elev, 4 is retaled tom memory before compu the next curve elevation. "7 eon tee Teis advisable to check the elevation of B rom Elev. B = Ele. ¥ ev. Bm Be, V+ Gyl-+ 2. Th le.D = 25416-08584 2 = 28636 Ghee4-7. Lowest Point on Vertical Curve ‘The lowest o highest point on a vertical curve is sometimes needed. (This point is sometimes called the turning point on the curve.) For installing a Balvert at the low point, the approximate stationing may be determined ‘Quickly by interpolating between calculated elevations. The stationing of = High point of low point may be computed more accurately either by applying the chord-gradient principle ot from specific formulas. From the definition of K, the distance X; in feet from the beginning of vertical curve tothe turning point (where the gradient is zero) must be ~ KGs- This may be derived mathematically by setting dy/4X equal to zero in the expression y = aX? + G,X. Thus, 2oX + G, =O at the turing point, The esult of solving this equation and expressing X in foot units is X, = 1006;/2a, which reduces to 1G, ered (46) ‘After X, has beea computed, the elevation of the turning point may be ound from the fact thatthe gradients from the ends ofthe curve tothe turning point are exactly one-half the gradients on the tangents. This comes from Principle 1, which requires the gradient from A to the turning point to be G, + aX,/100 (algebraically). ‘This is equivalent to 1046, = G)]f_LGr_ 6 +[ =" ates) which reduces to 4G), From the turning point to B the gradient is 4G2 ‘On an unequaltangent vertical curve the turning point may occur on cither of the two parabolas, its position depending on the tangent grades, Xe (en 4-8. VERTICAL CURVE TO PASS THROUGH FIXED POINT 73 where Xy and the dita ; in yh cama eed Ly a raping en tn Hh om Aad ‘48. Vertical Curve to Pass Through Fixed Point ee aad work ean jae eee often ne uy to find the length sacri ee rae is ea = fe and stationing of the fixed point P, and Eames vaste gerne m7 found by sabeliog eae jons, the unknown length of curve may always Example 3 Ga = + 1.6%; Sta, P = 174400; Elev. P = 614.00, © Case A—Beginning of Curve Known. Sta. = 13+ aX? + GX, where y = 614,00 ~ 624.53 an y= 61400 ~ 624.53 and lev. = 62453, [100(G; ~ G,)]/2L. Substi 580) -1053 = Bw = (4.294) from which 627L = 4640 < YNio Figure 4 Parabola through point.‘74. PARABOLIC CURVES and L= 408 Y = 16470; Blev. = 608:99. In this B—Vertex of Curve Known. St + (614.00 = 608.99). o =A a= (29) 03) - een 09) eR Tan ra ng Zefa yt cei he sno is): Son We oe oat oun my be intl y e the following alternate solution.* From the rule of offsets and the construction shown in Fig. 4-4, DP _@b+h? EP GL — iP which reduces to by the constant C. Substituting and solving for L gives WC +1) as) + From suggestion by Max Kurtz, P. E, Brooklyn, N.Y. 4-9, REVERSED VERTICAL CURVE 75 In this example, 01 — 100 a = L765 so1 - 1:90) 100 Therefore x30 x 217 2% 30% 21765 _ sop 01765 as before, In formula 4-9, his positive when the station of P exceeds the station of V and negative when the reverse is true. For erest vertical curves, Cis found from # Case C—-Fixed Point is Highest or Lowest Point. In this practical case the elevation ofthe turning point (such as the clearance over the invert of a culvert) and the vertex ofthe curve are known, Although the stationing ofthe {uming point can be scaled approximately from the profile iti assumed to be unknown and is not used in finding the required curve. the position ofthe vertex isthe same asin Case B and the turning point it elevation 613.28, then the value of X, in stations is LG,/100(G, ~ G,) (Grom 4-6). By substitution, ~421, 580) (421)? 20) 200 * 429 @ey ~42(=Zh) which reduces to 0.00581 = 4.29