CURVES

Simple Curves
Simple Curve – a circular arc, extending from
one tangent to the next.

-Point of Curvature (PC) – point where the

curve leaves the back tangent (first tangent).
-Point of Tangency (PT) – point where the
curve joins the forward tangent (second
tangent).
-Intersection Angle (I) – angle of intersection
of tangents.
-Vertex or Point of Intersection (V or PI) –
intersection of back tangent and forward
tangent.
-Tangent Distance (T) – distance from vertex
to the PC or PT.
-Chord Distance (C) – line connecting PC and
PT.
-External Distance (E) – distance from the
vertex to the curve.
-Middle Ordinate (M) – line joining the middle
of the curve and the middle of the chord.

Sta. PC = Sta. PI-T

Sta. PT = Sta. PC +
Example
Compound Curve
A compound curve consists of a number of
circular curves of different radii joined together
with centres of the curves all lying on one side of
the curve. The point of curvature of the next curve
is the point of tangency of the previous one.

PCC = Point of compound curvature

With known stationing of PC:
Sta. PT = Sta. PC + +
With known stationing of PI:
Sta. PT = Sta. PI – – + +
 Elements of Compound Curve
PC = Point of Curvature/Deviation ; point where
the first curve leaves the first tangent
PT = Point of Tangency ; point where the second
curve meets the second tangent
PI = Point of Intersection of the first tangent and
the second tangent
= Point of Intersection of the first tangent and the
common tangent
= Point of Intersection of the common tangent and
the second tangent
PCC = Point of Compound Curve ; point where the
first curve and the second curve joins
 Elements of Compound Curve
I = Intersection Angle between the first tangent
and the second tangent
I1 = Intersection Angle between the first tangent
and the common tangent
I2 = Intersection Angle between the common
tangent and the second tangent
R1 = Radius of Curvature of the first curve
R2 = Radius of Curvature of the second curve
T1 + V1 = Tangent Distance on the side of the first
curve
T2 + V2 = Tangent Distance on the side of the
second curve
T1 + T2 = Length of Common Tangent
Lc1 = Length of Long Chord of the first curve
Lc2 = Length of Long Chord of the second curve
Sc1 = Length of the First Curve
Sc2 = Length of the Second Curve
LL = Length of Common Long Chord
A long chord from PC to PT of a compound curve is 180 m long and the angle it makes with the longer
tangents are 12° and 18° respectively. Find the radius of the compound curve if the common tangent is
parallel to the long chord.

Sine Law:

108.79 = 2
= 520.384 m

72.70 = 2
= 232.366 m
A compound curve laid on their tangents have the following data: = 31°, = 36°, = 3° and = 5°. Find the
length of the common tangent passing thru the P.C.C.

T = + = Length of Common Tangent

Find and , R = 1145.916 / D

= 381.972 m
= 229.183 m

=381.972tan= 105.93 𝑚

=229.183tan = 74.47 𝑚

+ = 105.93 + 74.47 = 180.40 m

Two tangents intersect at station 2+550. A compound curve laid
on their tangents has the following data:
= , = , = , =
Compute:
A] B] C] I D]
E] F] G] H] LL
I] Sta. PC J] Sta. PCC K] Sta. PT
Reverse Curve
A reverse curve consists of two simple curves joined together, but curving in opposite directions.
The curves are connected at the Point of Reversed Curve, PRC, which is the PC of the first curve
and also the PT of the succeeding curve.

PRC = Point of Reversed Curvature

With known stationing of :
Sta. PT = Sta. of – + +
With known stationing of PC:
Sta. of = Sta. of PC + +
Types of Reversed Curve
Reversed Curve for Non-Parallel Tangents
The following figure is an example reversed curves of unequal radii connecting non-parallel
tangents.
Types of Reversed Curve
Reversed Curve for Parallel Tangents
The figure below is an example of reversed curves of unequal radii connecting two parallel roads.
Two parallel tangents 10. M apart are connected by a reversed curve. The chord length from the P.C to the
P.T equals to 120m.
A) Compute the length of the tangent with the common direction,
B) Determine the equal radius of the reversed curve.
C) Compute the stationing of the P.R.C. if the stationing of A at the beginning of the tangent with common
direction is 3+420.
Two parallel tangents have directions of due east and are 200 m. apart, are connected by a reversed curve
having equal radius of 800 m. The P.C. of the curve is on the upper tangent while the P.T. is at the lower
tangent. If the horizontal distance parallel to the tangent from the P.C. to the P.T of the reversed curve is
800 m.

a) Compute the distance of the intermediate tangent between the curves.

b) Compute the distance between the centers of the reversed curve.
c) Compute the stationing of P.T. if Sta. of the P.C. is 10 + 020.40
Two parallel tangents have directions of due east and are 200 m.
apart, are connected by a reversed curve having equal radius of
800 m. The P.C. of the curve is on the upper tangent while the P.T.
is at the lower tangent. If the horizontal distance parallel to the
tangent from the P.C. to the P.T of the reversed curve is 800 m.

a) Compute the distance of the intermediate tangent between

the curves.
b) Compute the distance between the centers of the reversed
curve.
c) Compute the stationing of P.T. if Sta. of the P.C. is 10 + 020.40
SPIRAL
CURVE
- are used to overcome the abrupt change in
curvature and superelevation that occurs between
tangent and circular curve.
SPIRAL
CURVE
- are used to overcome the abrupt change in
curvature and superelevation that occurs between
tangent and circular curve.
The tangents of a spiral curve form an angle of intersection of 25° at station 2+ 058. Design speed
is 80 km/hr. For a radius of central curve of 300 m and a length of spiral of 52.10m.
1. Find the stationing at the point where the spiral starts.
2. Find the stationing of the start of central curve.
3. Find the length of central curve.
A spiral easement curve has a length of 120 m with a central curve having a radius of 300 m.
Determine the offset distance from the tangent to the third-quarter point of the spiral.