SPIRAL CURVE
SPIRAL CURVE
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SPIRAL CURVE
SPIRAL CURVE
A transition curve or spiral curve should be placed between
tangents and each end of the simple curve and between the simple
curves of a compound curve. A spiral curve increases in curvature
gradually, thus avoiding an abrupt change in the rate of lateral
displacement of the vehicles. It also provides a means of gradually
elevating the far end of the road in proper relation to the degree of
curvature.
Elements of a Spiral curves.
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SPIRAL CURVE
Elements of Spiral Curve
▪ TS = Tangent to spiral
▪ SC = Spiral to curve
▪ CS = Curve to spiral
▪ ST = Spiral to tangent
▪ LT = Long tangent
▪ ST = Short tangent
▪ R = Radius of simple curve
▪ Ts = Spiral tangent distance
▪ Tc = Circular curve tangent
▪ L = Length of spiral from TS to any point along the spiral
▪ Ls = Length of spiral
▪ PI = Point of intersection
▪ I = Angle of intersection
▪ Ic = Angle of intersection of the simple curve
▪ p = Length of throw or the distance from tangent that the
circular curve has been offset
▪ X = Offset distance (right angle distance) from tangent to
any point on the spiral
▪ Xc = Offset distance (right angle distance) from tangent
to SC
▪ Y = Distance along tangent to any point on the spiral
▪ Yc = Distance along tangent from TS to point at right angle
to SC
▪ Es = External distance of the simple curve
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SPIRAL CURVE
▪ θ = Spiral angle from tangent to any point on the spiral
▪ θs = Spiral angle from tangent to SC
▪ i = Deflection angle from TS to any point on the spiral, it is
proportional to the square of its distance
▪ is = Deflection angle from TS to SC
▪ D = Degree of spiral curve at any point
▪ Dc = Degree of simple curve
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SPIRAL CURVE
SPIRAL CURVE FORMULAS:
▪ Distance along tangent to any point on the spiral:
𝑳𝟓 𝑳𝒔 𝟑
𝒀= 𝑳− 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒀𝑪 = 𝑳𝒔 −
𝟒𝟎𝑹𝟐 𝑳𝒔 𝟐 𝟒𝟎𝑹𝟐
▪ Offset distance from tangent to any point on the spiral:
𝑳𝟑 𝑳𝒔 𝟐
𝑿= 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑿𝒄 =
𝟔𝑹𝑳𝒔 𝟔𝑹
▪ Spiral angle from tangent to any point on the spiral:
𝑳𝟐 𝑳𝒔
𝜽= 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝜽𝒔 = (𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒔)
𝟐𝑹𝑳𝒔 𝟐𝑹
▪ Deflection angle from TS to any point on the spiral:
𝜽 𝜽𝒔
𝒊= 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒔 =
𝟑 𝟑
𝜽 𝜽𝒔
𝒊= 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒔 =
𝟑 𝟑
▪ Tangent distance:
𝑳𝒔 𝑰
𝑻𝒔 = + (𝑹 + 𝑷) 𝐭𝐚𝐧
𝟐 𝟐
▪ Angle of intersection of simple curve:
𝑰𝑪 = 𝑰 − 𝟐𝜽𝒔
▪ Length of Throw:
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SPIRAL CURVE
𝑿𝑪 𝑳𝒔 𝟐
𝑷= =
𝟒 𝟐𝟒𝑹
▪ External distance:
𝑰
𝑬 = (𝑹 + 𝑷) 𝐬𝐞𝐜 − 𝑹
𝟐
▪ Degree of spiral curve at any point:
𝑫 𝑳
= ; 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐷𝐶 = 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑒
𝑫𝑪 𝑳𝒔
▪ Desirable length of spiral:
𝟎. 𝟎𝟑𝟔𝒗𝟑
𝑳𝒔 = ; 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑣 = 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑘𝑝ℎ
𝑹
▪ Super-elevation, e (ideal superelevation):
𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟗𝒗𝟐
𝒆= ; 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑣 𝑖𝑛 𝑘𝑝ℎ & 𝑅 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟
𝑹
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SPIRAL CURVE
SAMPLE PROBLEMS
PROBLEM 1. A spiral curve of 80 meters long connects a tangent with
a 6°30’ circular curve. If the stationing of the T.S. is 10 + 000, and the
gauge of the tract on the curve is 1.5 meters.
a. Determine the elevation of the outer rail at the midpoint, if
the velocity of the fastest train to pass over the curve is 60 kph.
b. Determine the spiral angle at the first quarter point.
c. Determine the offset from the tangent at the second quarter
point.
Solution:
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SPIRAL CURVE
PROBLEM 2. A spiral curve was laid out in a certain portion of the
Manila-Cavite Coastal Road. It has a length of spiral of 80 meters and
the angle of intersection of two tangents is 42°. If the degree of curve
is 6°, determine the following elements of the spiral curve to be laid
out:
a. Length of long and short tangent.
b. External distance.
c. Length pf throw.
d. Maximum velocity that car could pass thru the curve without
skidding.
Solution:
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SPIRAL CURVE
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