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Tangents Curves
Tangents and Curves
Tangents and Curves
Tangent
Curve
Tangent to
Circular Curve
Tangent to Spiral
Curve
Tangents and Curves
Tangents and Curves
Types of Curves
What is a Horizontal Curve?
• Provides a transition
between two tangent
lengths of roadway.
• Necessary for
gradual change in
direction when a
direct point of
intersection is not
feasible.
Curves
•The purpose of the curves is to deflect a vehicle
traveling along one of the straights safely and
comfortably through a deflection angle θ to
enable it to continue its journey along the other
straight.
Guidelines to Horizontal Curves
•Horizontal Alignment
Considerations
– Radius
– Design Speed
– Side Friction Factor
– Superelevation
Considerations for Horizontal Curves
•Safety
•Economically Practical
Types of Circular Curve
Simple Curve
Types of Circular Curve
Compound Curve
Types of Circular Curve
Reverse Curve
Layout of a Simple Curve
Elements of Simple Curve
R = Radius of Curve
PC = T1 = BC = Beginning of Curve (PC = Point of Curvature)
PT = T2 = EC = End of Curve (PT = Point of Tangency)
PI = V = Point of Intersection
T = Tangent Length (T = PI – BC = EC - PI)
Lc = Length of Curvature (Lc = EC – BC)
M = Middle Ordinate
E = External Distance
C = Chord Length (L)
Δ or I = Intersection or Central Angle
Definitions
1. Back tangent or First Tangent - (AT1) Previous to the curve
2. Forward Tangent or Second tangent - (BT2)- Following the
curve.
3. Point of Intersection ( PI) or Vertex (v) - If the tangents AT1
and BT2 are produced they will meet at a point called the
point of Intersection
4. Point of curve ( PC) – Beginning Point T1 of a curve.
Alignment changes from a tangent to curve.
5. Point of Tangency (PT) – End point of curve ( T2) is called..
6. Intersection Angle (I) - The angle between the back tangent
and forward tangent is called...
7. Deflection Angle (Δ) - The angle at P.I. between back
tangent and forward tangent is called..
8. Tangent Distance – It is the distance between P.C. and P.I.
Definitions
9. External Distance (E) - The distance from the mid point of
the curve to PI. It is also called the apex distance.
10. Length of curve (Lc) - It is the total length of curve from PC
to PT
11. Long chord (L)(C) – It is the chord joining PC to PT, T1, T2 is
a long chord.
12. Normal Chord - A chord between two successive regular
station on a curve is called normal chord. Normally , the
length of normal chord is 1 chain ( 20m).
13. Mid Ordinate (M) - The distance between mid point of long
chord and the apex, is called ...
14. Right hand curve - If the curve deflects to the right of the
direction of the progress of survey.
15. Left hand curve - If the curve deflects to the left of the
direction of the progress of survey.
Designation of Curve
• By Arc Definition
Elements of a Simple Curve
240 20
; I 48o
I 4
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
Simple Curve
b. Compute the distance from the mid-point of the long chord to the mid-
point of the curve.
I
M R 1 cos ; M 286 . 48 1 cos 24 o
2
M 24 . 76 m
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
Simple Curve
1. The offset distance of the simple curve from the PT to the tangent
line passing through the PC is equal to 120.20 m. The stationing of
PC is at 2+540.26. The simple curve has an angle of intersection of
50o.
a. Compute the degree of curve.
o 120.20
Sin 50 ; T 156.91m
T
T R tan 24 o ; T R tan 25 o
156 . 91 R tan 25 o ; R 336 . 49 m
1145 . 916
D ; D 3 o 24 o
336 . 49
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
Simple Curve
L
R Sin 25o ; L 2 (336.49) Sin 25o
2
L 284.41m.
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
Simple Curve
60
tan ; 14.04o ; 2 28.08o
40
R 60 R Cos 28.08o
0.1177R 60; R 509.70 m
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
Simple Curve
509.70 (28.08)
S R ; S R
180
S 249.80
Sta. of X (10 080) 249.80
Sta. of X 10 329.80
CURVES
Compound Curves
Stationing of the PC
I1 268 o 30 ' 247 o 50 ' ; I1 20 o 40 '
I 2 282 o 50 ' 268 o 30 ' ; I 2 14 o 20 '
D 4o
D1 10 10
Sin ; Sin 2 o ; R1 286 .56
2 R1 R1
I1
T1 R1 tan ; T1 286 .56 tan 10 o 20 ' ; T1 52 .25 m
2
PC 43 010 .46 52 .25
PC 42 958 .21
SAMPLE PROBLEM 1
Compound Curve
Stationing of the PT
I 2 ( 20) 14 o 40' ( 20) 14.33( 20)
LC 2 ; LC 2 ; LC2
D2 5o 58' 5.966
LC 2 48.10
PT ( 43 061 .55) ( 48.10)
PT 43 109 .65
SAMPLE PROBLEM 2
Compound Curve
AO 135
o
o
; AO 81 .60
Sin 9 Sin 165
BO 135
o
o
; BO 54 .52
Sin 6 Sin 165
o 40 .8
Sin 6 ; R1 390 .32 m
R1
27 .26
Sin 9 o ; R1 174 .26 m
R2
SAMPLE PROBLEM 3
Compound Curve
o 27 .60
Sin 8 ; L 198 .31
L
CURVES
Reversed Curve Sample Problem 1
a R1 R1Cos16o ; a R1 (1 Cos16o )
b R2 R2Cos16o ; b R2 (1 Cos16o )
a b 27.60
R1 (1 Cos16o ) R2 (1 Cos16o ) 27.60
( R1 R2 )(1 Cos16o ) 27.60
R1 R2 712.47; R1 712.47 290
R1 422.47 m
CURVES
Reversed Curve Sample Problem 1
a R cos 30 O R cos 50 O
a R (cos 30 O cos 50 O )
a 0 .223 R
b R R cos 50 O
b R (1 cos 50 O )
b 0 .357 R
a b 116 .50
0 .223 R 0 .357 R 116 .50
R 200 .86 m.
CURVES
Reversed Curve Sample Problem 2
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
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
CURVES
Formulas of Spiral Curves
L5
Distance along tangent to any point on the spiral: Y L 2
3 40 R 2 LS
LS
At L = Ls, Y = Yc, thus, YC LS
40R 2
L3
Offset distance from tangent to any point on the spiral: X
2 6 RLS
LS
At L = Ls, X = Xc, thus, X C
6R
CURVES
Formulas of Spiral Curves
2
1 LS
Length of throw: p X C
4 24 R
L2
Spiral angle from tangent to any point on the spiral (in radian):
2 RLS
L
At L = Ls, θ = θs, thus, S S
2R
1 L2
Deflection angle from TS to any point on the spiral: i
3 6 RLS
1 L
At L = Ls, i = is, thus, i S S
3 6R
CURVES
Formulas of Spiral Curves
i L2
This angle is proportional to the square of its distance 2
LS I iS LS
Tangent distance: TS ( R P ) tan
2 2
Angle of intersection of simple curve: I C I 2 S
External distance: ES
RP
R
I
cos
2
D L
Degree of spiral curve:
DC LS
3 2
0.036 K 0.0079 K
LS e
R R
K = maximum speed of the car that could pass through the spiral without skidding
e = superelevation of the road
CURVES
Spiral Curve Sample Problem 1
LC 180 80 180
S ;
2 RC 2 (190 .99 )
S 12 o
S 12
i ; i
3 3
i4
CURVES
Spiral Curve Sample Problem 1
XC I
E S ( RC ) sec R C
4 2
I 282 240
I 42 o
2
LC (80 ) 2
XC ;
6 R C 6 (190 .99 )
X C 5 .58
5 .58
E S (190 .99 ) sec 21 o 190 .99
4
E S 15 .08 m
CURVES
Spiral Curve Sample Problem 2
XC I
E S ( RC ) sec R C
4 2
5 .58
E S (190 .99 ) sec 21 o 190 .99
4
E S 15 .08 m
X C 5 .58
P ;
4 4
P 1 .395 m
CURVES
Spiral Curve Sample Problem 2