Elevation Point of Vertical Curve – Important Transition Element

• Length of Curve (x)

  m ft

• Initial Grade (g₁)

  %

• Final Grade (g₂)

  %

• Initial Elevation (e_pvc)

  m ft

•  

• Elevation of point of vertical tangency in meters (e_pvt)

  

• Elevation of point of vertical tangency in feet (e_pvt)

  

Formula:

y = e_pvc + g₁x + [ (g₂ − g₁) ×x² / 2L ]

  Where,

    y - elevation of point of vertical tangency

    e_pvc - Initial Elevation

    g₁ - Initial grade

    g₂ - Final grade

    x/L - Length of the curve

Vertical curves are important transition elements in geometric design for highways and its calculation has high importance in civil engineering, calculate easy with this online calculator.