SURVEYING FOR ENGINEERS

CEVB 213
Circular Curves

Objectives
Know the nomenclature of a horizontal curve
Know how to solve curve problems
Know how to solve reverse/compound curve
problems

Simple Horizontal Curve

Circular arc tangent to two straight (linear)
sections of a route

Circular Curves

PI-pt of intersection
PC-pt of curvature
PT-pt of tangency
R-radius of the circular arc
Back tangent
Forward (ahead) tangent

Circular Curves

T-distance from the PC or PT to the PI

-Deflection Angle. Also the central angle
of the curve (LT or RT)
Dc -Degree of Curvature. The angle
subtended at the center of the circle by a
100 arc on the circle (English units)

Degree of Curvature
Highway agencies arc definition
Railroad agencies chord definition

Arc Definition-Derivision
Dc/100 of arc is proportional to 360
degrees/2*PI*r
Dc=18,000/PI*r

Circular Curves
E External Distance
Distance from the PI to the midpoint of the circular arc measured along the
bisector of the central angle

L-Length of Curve
M-Middle Ordinate
Distance from the midpoint of the long chord (between PC & PT) and the
midpoint of the circular arc measured along the bisector of the central angle

Basic Equations

T=R*tan(1/2*)
E=R(1/cos(/2)-1)
M=R(1-cos(/2))
R=18,000/(*Dc)
L=(100*)/Dc
L=(*R*)/180-------metric

From: Highway Engineering, 6th Ed. 1996,

Paul Wright, ISBN 0-471-00315-8

Example Problem
=30 deg
E=100 minimum to avoid a building
Choose an even degree of curvature to meet
the criteria

Example Problem
Solve for R knowing E and Deflection Angle
(R=2834.77 minimum)
Solve for degree of curvature (2.02 deg and
round off to an even curvature (2 degrees)
Check R (R=2865 ft)
Calc E (E=101.07 ft which is > 100 ok)

Practical Steps in Laying Out a

Horizontal Alignment

POB - pt of beginning
POE - pt of ending
POB, PIs and POEs are laid out
Circular curves (radii) are established
Alignment is stationed
XX+XX.XX (english) a station is 100
XX+XXX.XXX (metric) a station is one km

Compound Curves
Formed by two simple curves having one
common tangent and one common point of
tangency
Both curves have their centers on the same
side of the tangent
PCC-Point of Compound Curvature

Compound Curves
Avoid if possible for most road alignments
Used for ramps (RS<=0.5*RL)
Used for intersection radii (3-centered
compound curves)

Use of Compound Curves

Use of compound
curves: intersections

Reverse Compound Curves

Formed by two simple curves having one
common tangent and one common point of
tangency
The curves have their centers on the opposite
side of the tangent
PRC-Point of Reverse Curvature

Reverse Compound Curves

Avoid if possible for most road alignments
Used for design of auxiliary lanes (see
AASHTO)

Use of RCC: Auxiliary Lanes

Source: AASHTO, Figure IX-72, Page 784

Example: Taper Design C-3

R=90m
L=35.4m
What is width?
L=2Rsin and w=2R(1-cos )
Solve for (first equation) and solve for w
(2nd equation)
W-3.515m=11.5 ft

In General
Horizontal alignments should be as directional
as possible, but consistent with topography
Poor horizontal alignments look bad, decrease
capacity, and cost money/time

Considerations
Keep the number of curves down to a
minimum
Meet the design criteria
Alignment should be consistent
Avoid curves on high fills
Avoid compound & reverse curves
Correlate horizontal/vertical alignments