CE 410: ENGINEERING SURVEYS
TLO-2: HORIZONTAL CURVES Page 6
2.0 CURVES
In geometric design of motorways, railways, pipelines, etc. The design and setting out of curves is an
important aspect of the engineer’s work.
The initial design is usually based on a series of straight sections whose positions are defined largely
by the topography of the area. The intersections of pairs of straights are then connected by
horizontal curves. In the vertical design, intersecting gradients are connected by curves in the
vertical plane.
Curves can be listed under three main headings, as follows:
1. Circular curves of constant radius
2. Transition curves of varying radius (spirals)
3. Vertical curves of parabolic form
2.1 CIRCULAR CURVES
Two straights D1T1 and D2T2 are connected by a circular curve
of radius R:
1. The straights when projected forward, meet at I (the
intersection point).
2. The angle Δ at I is called the angle of instersection of the
deflection angle, and equals the angle T1OT2 subtended at the
center of the curve O.
3. The angle φ at I is called the apex angle, but it is little used
in curve computations.
4. The curve commences from T1 and ends at T2; these points are called the tangent points.
5. Distances T1I and T2I are the tangent lengths and are equal to R tan Δ/2.
6. The length of the curve T1AT2 is obtained from:
Curve length = RΔ where Δ is expressed in radians
o 100
curvelength where D = degree of curve
Do
7. Distance T1T2 is called the main chord (C):
ENGR. SKN LAZO SEA-CE
CE 410: ENGINEERING SURVEYS
TLO-2: HORIZONTAL CURVES Page 7
T1 B chord (C )
1
sin 2
2 T1O R
C 2 R sin
2
8. IA is called the apex distance and equals
IO R R sec R sec 1
2 2
9. AB is the rise and equals:
R OB R R cos
2
AB R1 cos
2
2.1.2 CURVE DESIGNATION
Curves are designated wither by their radius (R) or their degree of curvature (Do). The degree of
curvature is defined as the angle subtended at the center of a circle by an arc. It defines the
“sharpness” or “flatness” of the curve.
The two common definitions of degree of curvature are the Arc Definition used in highway work and
the Chord Definition used by some counties and in railroad work.
In terms of radius, a 1o curve by the arc definition would have a radius of 5729.578 feet. And by the
chord definition, its radius is 5729.65 feet.
A. By Arc Definition. A D degree curve has an arc length of 20m or 100 feet resulting in an internal
angle of D degrees. (So, the stationing and angles are known and the chords remain to be calculated.)
In this definition, the degree of curve and radius are inversely proportional using the formula:
deg reeofcurve lengthofar c
o
::
360 circumfere nce
ENGR. SKN LAZO SEA-CE
CE 410: ENGINEERING SURVEYS
TLO-2: HORIZONTAL CURVES Page 8
In English system: D=1 and length of arc=100feet
o
1o 100
o
::
360 2 R
18000
R 5,728.58 ft
R
In metric system: Using a 30.48-metr length of arc and substituting D=1o:
1o 30.48
o
::
360 2 R
R 1,746.38m
B. By Chord Definition. A D degree curve has a chord of 20m or 100 feet resulting in an internal
angle of D degrees. (So, the chords are angles are known and the arc stations would remain to be
calculated.) The radius and the degree of curve are not inversely proportional even though, as in the
arc definition, the larger the degree of curve, the “sharper” the curve and the shorter the radius.
50 ft 15.24m
R or
sin 2 D sin 12 D
1
In English system: D=1o
50 ft
R
sin 12 (1)
50m
R 5,729.65 ft
0.0087265355
In metric system: Using a 30.48-metr length of arc and substituting D=1o:
15.24m
R
sin 12 (1)
15.24
R 1,746.40m
0.0087265355
2.1.3. SETTING OUT CURVES
This is the process of establishing the center line of the curve on the ground by means of pegs. In
order to do this, the tangent and intersection points must first be fixed in the ground, in their
correct positions.
ENGR. SKN LAZO SEA-CE
CE 410: ENGINEERING SURVEYS
TLO-2: HORIZONTAL CURVES Page 9
A. Linear Method. These methods only use tape of chain for setting out the curve. Angle measuring
instruments are not used.
A.1. Setting out using coordinates
The coordinate along the centerline of the curve
are computed relative to the existing control points.
A.2. Setting out with two tapes (method of offsets)
Theoretically this method is exact, but in practice
errors of measurement propagate round the curve. It
is therefore generally used for minor curves.
A.3. Setting out by offsets with sub-chords
B. Angular Method
This method is used the length of the curve is large:
[Link] out with theodolite and tape
The most popular and it is called Rankine’s deflection or
tangential angle method.
ENGR. SKN LAZO SEA-CE
CE 410: ENGINEERING SURVEYS
TLO-2: HORIZONTAL CURVES Page 10
B.2. Setting out with two theodolites
When chord taping is impossible, the curve may be set
out using two theodolites at T1 and T2 respectively, the
intersection of the lines of sight giving the position of
the curve pegs.
B.3. Setting out using EDM (Electronic Distance
measurement)
When setting out by EDM, the total distance from T1
to the peg is set out. However, the chord and sub-chord
distances are still required in the usual way, plus the
setting out angles of the chords.
2.2. HORIZONTAL CURVES
The primary parts of a curve are as follows:
V: Vertex (Point of Intersection; PI)
- marks the point where the back and forward
tangents intersect. The surveyor indicates it as one of the
stations on the preliminary traverse.
B: Beginning of Curve (BC)
Point of Curve (PC)
Tangent-Curve Point (TC)
- the point where the circular curve begins.
C: End of Curve (EC)
Point of Tangency (PT)
Curve-Tangent Point (CT)
- the end of the curve
A: Back Tangent
D: Forward Tangent
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CE 410: ENGINEERING SURVEYS
TLO-2: HORIZONTAL CURVES Page 11
2.2.1. SIMPLE CURVES
The other components of a simple curve:
L: Length of curve (arc) The distance from the PC to the PT measured along the
curve.
LC: Long Chord The chord connecting the PC to the PT.
T: Tangent length/distance The distance along the tangents from the PI to the PC or PT.
These distances are equal on a simple curve.
E: External Distance The distance from the PI to the midpoint of the curve. The
external distance bisects the interior angle at the PI.
R: Radius The radius of the circle of which the curve is an arc.
M: Middle ordinate distance The distance from the midpoint of the curve o the midpoint o
the long chord. The extension of the middle ordinate bisects
the central angle.
Δ or I: Central Angle The angle formed by two radii drawn from the center of the
circle (point O) to the PC and PT. The central angle is equal in
value to the I angle.
[Link]. DERIVATION OF FORMULA
1. Transferring of the central angle.
2. L R (in radians)
3. L 2 R o
360
4. T R tan
2
ENGR. SKN LAZO SEA-CE
CE 410: ENGINEERING SURVEYS
TLO-2: HORIZONTAL CURVES Page 12
5. LC 2 RSin
2
6. MO R1 Cos or MO RVer sin e
2 2
1 Cos 2
7. E R Sec 1 or E T or E Tan
2 Sin 2
4
[Link]. EXERCISES: SIMPLE CURVE
1. What is the length of arc for the horizontal curve shown in
the sketch?
2. What is the length of tangent for the horizontal
curve shown in the sketch?
3. What is the length of long chord for the horizontal curve
shown in the sketch?
4. The angle of intersection of a circular curve is 45o30’ and its radius is 198.17m. PC is at Sta. 0+700.
Compute the right angle offset from Sta. 0+736.58 on the curve to tangent through PC.
5. The angle of intersection of a circular curve is 36o30’. Compute the radius if the external distance
is 12.02m.
6. Given the following elements of a circular curve: middle ordinate=2m; length of long chord=70m.
Find its degree of curve, use arc basis.
ENGR. SKN LAZO SEA-CE
CE 410: ENGINEERING SURVEYS
TLO-2: HORIZONTAL CURVES Page 13
2.2.2. COMPOUND CURVES
A compound curve is another type of horizontal curve which consists of two (or more) circular
curves between two main tangents joined at a point called PCC (Point of Compound Curve). Curve at
PC is designated as 1 (R1,L1,T1, etc.) and curve at PT is designated as 2 (R2, L2, T2, etc).
The simple circular curves of a compound curve have different radii but their curvature in the same
direction. Essentially, a compound curve consists of two curves that are joined at a point of tangency
and are located on the same side of a common tangent. Though their radii are in the same direction
they are of different values.
[Link] ELEMENTS OF COMPOUND CURVE
PC = point of curvature
PT = point of tangency
PI = point of intersection
PCC = point of compound curve
T1 = length of tangent of the first curve
T2 = length of tangent of the second curve
V1 = vertex of the first curve
V2 = vertex of the second curve
I1 = central angle of the first curve
I2 = central angle of the second curve
I = angle of intersection = I1 + I2
Lc1 = length of first curve
Lc2 = length of second curve
L1 = length of first chord
L2 = length of second chord
L = length of long chord from PC to PT
ENGR. SKN LAZO SEA-CE
CE 410: ENGINEERING SURVEYS
TLO-2: HORIZONTAL CURVES Page 14
T1 + T2 = length of common tangent measured from V1 to V2
θ = 180° - I
x and y can be found from triangle V1-V2-PI.
L can be found from triangle PC-PCC-PT
[Link]. STATIONING OF PT
Given the stationing of PC
Sta PT=Sta PC+Lc1+Lc2
Given the stationg of PI
Sta PT=Sta PI−x−T1+Lc1+Lc2
ENGR. SKN LAZO SEA-CE
