x
x Chapter 8
CURVES AND CURVE SETTING
8.1 INTRODUCTION
It is never possible to have straigt
ligaments require cha
unavoid;
angle,
tht highways or railways in a country. These straight
ges due to the nature of the terrain, cultural features and other
He reasons, A curve is usually used to connect two straight
lengths meeting at an
84 TYPES OF CURVES
In general, curves may be classified in two main groups:
1. Circular curves
2. Parabolic curves
Again, there are three types of circular curves, nameiy
i) Simple
ii) Compound
iii) Reverse
and there are two types of parabolic curves, namely
i) Transition
ii) Vertical
\Sifmple Curve: It is a circular curve Connecting two straight lengths meeting at an angle
(Fig.8.1).
Fig8.1 Simple curve
Fig. 8.2 Compound curve
Be raptna Conners h Compound curve consists of two ares of different radii bending in the
same
ection and lie on the same side of their common tangent at their junction, their
centers being on the same side of the curve (g.8.2),
Aeverse or Serpentine or § Curve: A reverse curve is composed of two
ilferent radii bending in the opposite directions of their common tangent
their centers being on opposite sides of the curve (Fig, 8.3)
ares of equal or
at their junction,
Traealion or Easement Curve: Whenever it is intended to change the passage of a vehicle
Tom @ straight to a circular curve as easy and free from shocks as possible, a smail
intermediary length of a curve is introduced conneeting the straight road with the circular
curve, This curve is known as the transition or easement curve (Eig. 8.4).
92
iniaiiieaN Y
Leminseote 7
n of Bernolli,
Py Te -Cu
Parabola,
D
y be :
Spiral
E
oO ° Saas
ig. 8.3 Reverse curve Fig. 8.4 Transition curve
Transition curves are of three different
i) Cubic parabola
ii) Leminscate of Bemolli
iii) Spiral
‘ as shown in Fig. 8.4
types, namely
ertical Curve: When an ascendin;
i grade is followed by a descending grade ot vice
versa as in highways and railways,
it is always desirable to round off at the junction by
Providing a curve, which is generally an are of a parabola. Such a curve is called » veriog
Tne £8: 85). There are two types of vertical curves: (3) summit curve, and (i) sag curve.
If an ascending grade is followed by a descending grade, the two grades are joined bya
summit curve (Fig. 8.5a). On the other hand, if a descending grade is followed by an
ascending grade, the two grades are joined by a say
eeemnennn
ig curve (Fig.8.5b).
fa eer N
Ty iN Te *
N ST2 e y
Tae
z mit curve (b) Sag curve te
Fig. 8.5 Vertical curves ik
ie
8.3 NOFATIONS FOR A CIRCULAR CURVE a
Referring to Fig, 8.6. EP and FP are two straights, known as tangents, meeting at P. A 4
ular curve TiMT> of radius R is used to conncet the two straights and is tangential to the hI
Straights EP and FP at the points T, and Tz, The following notations are used for the cireular i
curve
|. Point of curve or point of commencement: The point T; where the curve 4
Griginates oF the alignment changes from the struight to the eurve is known as the point of 4
curve or the po‘nt of commencement
2. Point of tangency: ‘The point ‘T> where the curve ends oF th
from the curve to the straight is known as the point of tangeney, |
3. Tangent points: T, and Ty are called the tan;
gent points, because the straights EP
and FP are the tangents to the circular curve at these points,
903.
alignment changes+ Back tangent: The tangent T;? at T, is the back tangent or the first tangent
eB
Fig. 8.6 Definition sketch fora simple circular curve
5. Forward tangent: The tangent PT» at Ty is the forward tangent or the second
tangent.
6. Point of intersection or the apex: The
‘angents meet is called the point of intersection,
7. Angle of intersection: The angle between the ta
angle of intersection and is denoted by 0
5. Angle of deflection: The angle by which the forward
'Scalled the angle of deflection. In Fig. 8.6, ZP,PF is the an
_ By geometry, 2T\OT? subtended at the contre by the tan;
$+8= 130°
Point P at which the two straights or
nigents, ie, ZEPF, is called the
or the second tangent deflects
ile of deflection. It is denoted by
gent points, is also equal to and
section and the point of tangency (PT;
or PT? in Fig. 8.6)
10. Length of curve: ‘The total length of the curve from the point of curve to the point
of tangency is the length of curve (TMT? in Fig. 8.6).
{hz Long chord: The chord joining the point of curve and the point of tangency is
called the long chord (T;NT3in Fig, 8.6).
12, Normal chord or majo!
Or pegs is called a normal chord,
{2 Subchord or minor chord: Subchord is any chord shorter than the normal chord,
14. Summit: The mid-point of the curve ig calle,
‘d the summit of the curve (point M in
Fig, 8.6).
F chord: A chord between two successive regular stations
'5.Versed sine or mid-ordinate: The ordinate (perpendicular distance) from the
ordinate AE 10 the mid-point of the long chord 's ealled the versed sine or mid-
ordinate (MN if Fig, 8.6)
16; hex distance: The distance between the point of intersection
the cury/1s called the apex distance (PM in Fig. 8.6)
and the summit of
z
8.4 PEGREE OF CURVE I»
Deuree of a curve may be defined cither with respect toa fixed len
igth of an are of the
Curve (are definition) or with respect to a
fixed length of a chord (chord definition),
une erases The degree of curvature of a cir
(100 fy are atthe center, This definition is gener
94
cular curve is the angle subtended by a 30 m
ally adopted for railway curves,
|tadius ofa circular curve. Since
D?: 360"= 30 m: 2a m
36030 8.9
R= m= 89 5,
2nD D
when D is in degree. Thus, the radius of 1° curve is 1718.9 m, of 2° curve is 859.4 m, of 3°
curys is 573.0 m and so on.
xr 4d definition: The degree of curvature of a circular curve is the angle subtended by a 30
V/1100 ft) chord at the cr’ +. This definition is generally adopted for highway or road
Clirves.
Let PQ be a cord of length 30 m, D° is the a
center, Then, from AOPM we get
nD PM _15 (=
2) hey
15 A
R=
on Ee in DID v
When D is small and expressed in radians, then
sin D/2 may be replaced by D/2 and we obtain Q
15 _15x360 _ 5400 718.9
ly eS 8
Dia Si aD) t a ae eaO)
180 Aes
For smaller values of D, Eqs. (8.1) and (8.3) are the same. However, for accurate
results, Eq. (8.2) must be used.
ingle subtended by the chord PQ at the
si
eR 8.5 ELEMENTS OF A CIRCULAR CURVE
‘The various elements ofa simple cireular curve ean be calculated as follows (Fig,
8.5):
1. Tangent length or tangent distance = PT, = PT; = OT; tan $/2
tan g/2 (8.4)
2. Length of long chord, L = TiN
OT, sin 6/2 = 2R sin H/2 (85)
3. Length of circular curve, =H and D in degree) (8.6)
4: Apex distance = PM = PO ~ OM = OT, sce 6/2—OM = R see $/2—R= R(1—sec 4/2)
(8.7) 27
5. Versed sine, V, = NM = OM ~ON=R - OT, cos 6/2 = R—R cos /2 = Ril —cos 472)
(8.8)
Another expression for “he versed sine is obtained as follows (Fig. 8.6): 4G
T= ON* 4".N? = (OM - NM)? +T\N?
or, R- Nii) +(/2)?
SNM = R~yR=(L 12 (8.9)
95
“~Q
Let D be the degree of curvature and R is the
scniaceaeeiaieeeenimea6. Chainage at Ty = Chainage at P- PT,
7.Chainage Thainage at T + length of curve (/)
Section being 120°. Ifthe radius of a simple circular curve introduced is 600 m, find (1)
the tangent distance, (ii) the length of the curve,
the long chord, (v) the apex distance, and (vi)
chain is 30 m,
(ili) the chainages at the tangent points, (iv)
the versed sine, Assume that the length of the
Solution $= 180°-0 = 180" 120°= 60? 92 =308
(® Tangent distance =
PT) = PT2 = R tan 9/2 = 600xtan 30° = 346.41 m
a ARG _ 7x 600%60 2
fi) Length of curve = = — 7*600%60 _ 64 5
i) ave = a m
(GD Chainage at the point of intersection-= (250 + 15) =250 chains 15 links
= (250%30 + 15 0.2) m= 7503.00 m
Chainage at T; = (7503.00 ~ 346.41) m= 7156.59 m
kainage at T2 = (7156.59 + 628,32) m= 7784.91 m
(i) Length of long chord, L = 2R sin @f2 = 2x600xsin 30° = 600.00 m
(¥) Apex distance =
(see O/2 — 1) = 600(sec 30° 1) = 92.82 m
(vi) Versed sine, V, = R(1 — cos 6/2) = 600(1-cos 30° = 80.38 m
8.6 METHODS OF RANGING A CIRCULAR CURVE
The following data are usually needed for ranging a simple circular curve
J. Chainage at the point of intersection P
2. Angle of intersection € or the angle of deflection
3. Radius of the curve R or degree of curve D.
Based upon the instruments used, there are two types of methods for ranging a simple
circular curve on the ground:
|. Linear methods: In these methods, only linear measurements are involved and’ a
‘ape and a chain are used. These methods are used when (a) a high degree of accuracy is not
Fequired, and (b) the radius of the curve R is small, The different linear methods are
(i) Ordinates from long chord
(ii) Offets from tangents
- Perpendicular offsets
- Radial offsets
(iii) Offsets from chords
2. Angular methods: In these methods, an instrument for angular measurement such
as a theodolite is used with or without a chain and/or a tape. These methods are more accurate
than the linear methods. The two angular methods are
(i) One theodolite method
(ii Two theadolites method
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“wo straight alignments of a road intersect at a chainage (250 + 15), the angle of