CHAPTER-8-CURVES

1. INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the curve is to gradually negotiate the change in direction
of the two intersecting straight lines.

2. TERMINOLOGY USED IN SIMPLE CIRCULAR CURVES

Point of curve (PC): It is the beginning point where alignment changes from straight line to a
curve.
Back tangent: It is the straight line at the beginning of curve tangent to the point of curve.
Point of Tangency (PT): It is the end point where alignment changes from a curve to
tangent.
Forward Tangent: It is the straight line at the end of curve tangent to the point of tangency.
Point of Intersection (PI): The point where back and forward tangent intersects when
produced is called Point of intersection.
Tangent Length (T): It is the distance from PC to PI or PI to PT.
Deflection Angle (Δ): It is the angle between the back tangent when produced and forward
tangent.
Radius of Curvature (R): It is the radius of curve.
Long Chord (LC): It is the straight-line joining point of curve to point of tangency.
Length of curve (L): It is the total length of curve from PC to PT.
Mid Ordinate (M): It is the ordinate from mid-point of long chord to mid-point of curve. Apex/
External Distance (E): The distance between POI and apex of curve is known as external
distance.
3. DESIGNATION OF A CURVE: A curve is designated by either radius of curve or degree of
curve. The degree of a curve is the angle subtended at the centre by a chord or arc of
specified length.

For 20m arc length

𝑅 = 20 ×
360 1146

𝐷
=
2𝜋𝐷
For 30 m arc length

𝑅 = 30 ×
360 1719

𝐷
=
2𝜋𝐷
4. ELEMENTS OF SIMPLE CIRCULAR CURVE
Formulas to calculate various elements of circular curve are as
under: (i) Tangent Length: = 𝑅 tan ( )
𝜋
(ii) Length of curve:𝐿 = 𝑅 × ∆ ×
180

(iii) Length of Long Chord: 𝐿𝐶 = 2𝑅 sin ( )

(iv) Mid ordinate: 𝑀 = 𝑅 (1 − cos )

(v) Apex/External distance: 𝐸 = 𝑅 (sec − 1)

(vi) Chainage:
(a) Chainage at PC = Chainage at PI – length of tangent
(b) Chainage at PT = Chainage at PC + length of curve
(c) Chainage at apex point = Chainage of PC + Half the curve length
(vii) Intermediate chord length: All intermediate chords are normal chord except
the first and last chord. The tangent points (point of curve and point of tangency) will not
be full station i.e. the chainage will not be multiple of full chains. The distance between
PC and first peg will be less than normal chord known as sub chord. Same case will be
for the distance between last peg and PT.

5. SETTING OUT OF SIMPLE CIRCULAR CURVE

6.1 Linear Method
Linear method makes use of chain or tape only for setting of curves. Following are the
methods available:
(i) Offset from the long chord

𝑂𝑜

𝑂𝑥

(ii) Radial offset method

⇒ 𝑂𝑥 𝑅 …. (exact)

Approximately,
𝑥2
𝑂𝑥 =
2�
�

(iii) Perpendicular offsets method

⇒ 𝑂𝑥 ….. (exact)
Approximately,

(iv) Successive Bisection of Arcs: Join the tangent point T1 and T2 and bisect the long
chord at D. Erect the perpendicular DC. Join T1C and T2C and bisect them at D1 and D2
 respectively. At D1 and D2, set out perpendicular offsets C1D1 =C2D2 𝑐𝑜𝑠 to
get
points C1 and C2 on the curve. More points can be obtained by successful bisection of chords.

(v) Offsets from the chord produced

This method is very useful for long curves generally used on highway curves when theodolite
is not available.
6.2 Angular Methods

These methods make use of angle measuring instruments such as theodolite with or

without use of distance measuring instruments. Following are the angular methods.

(i) Rankine Method of deflection Angles

A deflection angle at any point is the angle at P.C. between the back tangent and the
chord from P.C. to that point. Rankine method is based on the principle that the
deflection angle to any point on a circular curve is equal to one half the angle
subtended by the arc from P.C. to that point.

(ii) Two Theodolite Method

In this method two theodolite are used one at P.C. and other at P.T. This method is
based on the principle that the angle between the tangent and the chord is equal to the
angle which the chord subtends in the opposite segment.

(iii) Tacheometric Method

In this method, a point on the curve is fixed by the deflection angle from the rear
tangent and measuring tacheometrically, the distance of that point from T1. Knowing
the lengths, staff intercepts can be calculated.
5. TRANSITION CURVE:

• When a vehicle moves on a curve, a centrifugal force acts on it. Thus, sudden transition
from a straight path to a circular curve of radius R will introduce the centrifugal force
suddenly. Hence a sudden lateral shock will be felt by the passengers. To avoid this, we
introduce a curve of varying radius between straight path circular curve such that the radius
changes from infinity (i.e. straight line) to a radius R of circular curve. Thus, curve of
varying radius is called transitions curve.
• For a transition curve L.R=constant, ideal transition curve are clothoid, the glover spiral or
Euler spiral. For ease of setting out we use cubic spiral, however nowadays with electronic
instruments even cubic spiral or clothoid can also be set up easily.

Insertion of Transition Curve

• When transition curves are introduced between the tangents and a circular curve of radius
R, the circular curve is ‘shifted’ inwards from its original position by an amount AB = S (the
shift) as shown in the above figure such that the curve can meet tangentially.
• This is equivalent to have a circular curve of radius (R+S) connecting the tangents replaced
by two transition curves and a circular curve of radius R, although the tangent points are
not the same, being A and B.

L2 L
The amount of shift S = and TC = CD =
24R 2
Setting out transition Curve
To locate the tangent point T:
1. Calculate the shift S from the expression below

L2
S=
24R

2. Calculate VA = (R + S)tan
L
3. Since TA =
2
ΔL
Then VT = (R+S) tan +
2 2
Measure this length back from V and mark/set the point T.
The next step depends on whether it is intended to set out the transition with tapes using the
cubic spiral or cubic parabola, or by the theodolite using the cubic spiral. 4. Either calculate
offsets from 3 3

l y
x= or x =
6LR 6LR
Each peg is located by swinging a chord length from the preceding peg.