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Various transition curves are used in civil engineering to gradually introduce curvature and superelevation between both tang ents and circular curves as well as between two
circular curves with different curvature.
In its relationship to other tangents and curves, each spiral is either an incurve or an outcurve .
The two most commonly used parameters by engineers in designing and setting out a spiral are L (spiral length) and R (radius of circular curve).
The following illustration shows the various parameters of a spiral:
Spiral Description
Parameter
i1 The central angle of spiral curve L1, which is the spiral angle.
i2 The central angle of spiral curve L2, which is the spiral angle.
T1 The total tangent distance from PI to TS.
T2 The total tangent distance from PI to ST.
X1 The tangent distance at SC from TS.
X2 The tangent distance at CS from ST.
Y1 The tangent offset distance at SC from TS.
Y2 The tangent offset distance at CS from ST.
P1 The offset of the initial tangent into the PC of the shifted curve.
P2 The offset of the initial tangent out to the PT of the shifted curve.
K1 The abscissa of the shifted PC referred to the TS.
K2 The abscissa of the shifted PT referred to the ST.
LT1 The long tangent spiral in.
LT2 The long tangent spiral out.
ST1 The short tangent spiral in.
ST2 The short tangent spiral out.
Other Spiral Parameters
A1 The A value equals the square root of the spiral length multiplied by the radius. A measure of the flatness of
the spiral.
A2 The A value equals the square root of the spiral length multiplied by the radius. A measure of the fl atness of
the spiral.
Formula
Compound Spiral
Compound spirals provide a transition between two circular curves with different radii. As with the simple spiral, this allow s for continuity of the curvature function and provides
a way to introduce a smooth transition in superelevation.
Clothoid Spiral
While AutoCAD Civil 3D supports several spiral types, the clothoid spiral is the most commonly used spiral type. The clothoid spiral is used world w ide in both highway and
railway track design.
First investigated by the Swiss mathematician Leonard Euler, the curvature function of the clothoid is a linear function chosen such that the curvature is zero (0) as a function
of length where the spiral meets the tangent. The curvature then increases linearly until it is equal to the adjacent curve a t the point where the spiral and curve meet.
Such an alignment provides for continuity of the position function and its first derivative (local azimuth), just as a tangen t and curve do at a Point of Curvature (PC). However,
unlike the simple curve, it also maintains continuity of the second derivative (local curvature), which becomes increasingly important at higher speeds.
Formula
Flatness of spiral:
Instead of using the clothoid, the Bloss spiral with the parabola of fifth degrees can be used as a transition. This spiral has an advantage over the clothoid in that the shift P is
smaller and therefore there is a longer transition, with a larger spiral extension (K). This factor is important in rail desi gn.
Formula
Bloss spirals can be expressed as:
Sinusoidal Curves
These curves represent a consistent course of curvature and are applicable to transition from 0 through 90 degrees of tangent deflections. However, sinusoidal curves are not
widely used because they are steeper than a true spiral and are therefore difficult to tabulate and stake out.
Formula
Sinusoidal curves can be expressed as:
Differentiating with l we get an equation for l/r, where r is the radius of curvature at any given point:
Sine Half-Wavelength Diminishing Tangent Curve
This form of equation is commonly used in Japan for railway design. This curve is useful in situations where you need an effi cient transition in the change of curvature for low
deflection angles (in regard to vehicle dynamics.)
Formula
Sine Half-Wavelength Diminishing Tangent curves can be expressed as:
where and x is the distance from the start to any point on the curve and is measured along the (extended) initial tang ent; X is the total X at the end of the transition
curve.
Other key expressions:
Tangent distance at spiral-curve point from tangent-spiral point is:
This spiral is developed for requirements in Japan. Some approximations of the clothoid have been developed to use in situati ons to accommodate a small deflection angle or
a large radius. One of these approximations, used for design in Japan, is the Cubic Spiral (JP).
Formula
Cubic Spirals (JP) can be expressed as:
Cubic Parabolas
Cubic parabolas converge less rapidly than cubic spirals, which makes their use popular in railway and highway design. While they are less accurate than cubic spirals, cubic
parabolas are preferred by highway and railway engineers because they are expressed in Cartesian coordinates and are easy to set out in the field.
Formula
So
A cubic parabola radius decreases from infinity to at 24 degrees, 5 minutes, 41 seconds and from then onwards starts to increase again. This makes cubic
parabolas useless for deflections greater than 24 degrees.
Bi-quadratic (Schramm) spirals have low values of vertical acceleration. They contain two second-degree parabolas whose radii vary as a function of curve length.
Simple Curve Formula
Curvature of the first parabola:
for
Curvature of the second parabola:
for
This curve is specified by the user-defined length (L) of the transition curve.
Compound Curve Formulas
Curvature of the first parabola:
for
Curvature of the second parabola:
for