Highway Verical Curve alingment following a quadratic equation
Highway Verical Curve alingment following a quadratic equation
(OP)
Could someone please tell me why highway vertical curve alignments follow a quadratic equation? (ax^2+bx+c=y). Is it because this curve is the most smoothest between to tangent lines? I build a lot of highways but am not sure why this is the common convention by my DOT and engineers.
Thanks,
Thanks,





RE: Highway Verical Curve alingment following a quadratic equation
Vertical velocity is rate of change (integral) of elevation. Vertical acceleration is rate of change (integral) of vertical velocity. If you want a constant G force, you want a constant vertical acceleration, which would mean a 1st order (linear) relationship with velocity, and a 2nd order (quadratic) relationship with elevation.
(did I do that right?)
Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East - http://www.campbellcivil.com
RE: Highway Verical Curve alingment following a quadratic equation
RE: Highway Verical Curve alingment following a quadratic equation
RE: Highway Verical Curve alingment following a quadratic equation
Acceleration is the first derivative of the velocity function.
RE: Highway Verical Curve alingment following a quadratic equation