SOLVING A SIMPLE CURVE

Problem 2

Find the length of curve and the station at PT if the degree of curve is 5° and the central
angle is 72°30’. Solve also the radius, tangent distance, external distance and middle
ordinate. Use 20 meter full station.

Solution:

PI
I = 72°30’

E
T T
C
PC M
LC PT

R R

Solve for the length of curve,

20 I 20(72°30' ) C = 290m
C= C=
D 5°
Solving for station at PT,

Sta @ PT = sta at PC + C

= (1 + 040) + 290
= 1+ 330
Solving for R,
10 10
R= R= R = 229.256
D 5
sin sin
2 2
Solving for T,

I 72°30' T = 168.097 m
T = R tan T = 229.256 tan
2 2

Solving for the long chord,

I 72°30' C = 271.123m
C = 2 R sin C = 2(229.256)sin
2 2
Solving for the external distance,

⎛ I ⎞ ⎛ 72°30' ⎞ E = 55.024m
E = R⎜ sec − 1⎟ E = 229.256⎜ sec ⎟
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠

Solving for the middle ordinate,

⎛ I⎞ ⎛ 72°30' ⎞
M = R⎜1 − cos ⎟ M = 229.256⎜1 − cos ⎟ M = 44.374m
⎝ 2⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠

Problem 3

A 5° curve intersects a property line CD, at point D. The back tangent intersects the
property line at point C which is 105.720 m from the PC which is at station 0+612.690.
The angle that the property line CD makes with the back tangent is 110°50’.
(a) Determine the distance CD.
(b) Determine the stationing at CD. PI

Solution:
C
ß
105.720 m 110°50’ D

θ
α
PC PT

O
Solve for R: Solving for x:

1145.916
R= x = 180° − 45°30'−51°43'
D

1145.916
R= x = 82°47'
5

R = 229.183m Solving for CD:

CD 229.183
Solving for Ф: =
sin 82°47' sin 45°30'

105.720
tan φ = CD = 318.776m
229.183

φ = 24°40' Solving for C:

Solving for α: C = R (φ + x)

⎛ π ⎞
α = 180° − 90° − 24°40' C = (229.183)(107°27')⎜ ⎟
⎝ 180° ⎠

α = 65°20' C = 429.8m

Solving for ß: Solving for Station @ CD:

β = 110°50'−65°20' sta @ CD = Sta @ PC + C

β = 45°30' sta @ CD = (0 + 612.690) + 429.8

Solving for OC: sta @ CD = 1 + 042.490

105.720
OC =
sin 24°40'

OC = 254.241m

Considering ΔOCD:

OC 229.183
=
sin θ sin 45°30'

θ = 57°43'
Instructions:

1. The class will be divided into 10 groups with 5 members each.

2. Each group will read, discuss and understand the lecture notes especially the
sample problems.
3. Try to answer problems 4 and 5. Write the group’s solution in a 1 whole yellow
paper.
4. Write down the things which the group doesn’t understand in a ¼ yellow paper.
5. Submit the papers after the class period at the CE Department. Remember to list
all the names of the group members.

For next week:

Tuesday – continue with the lecture discussion

Thursday – Pre Midterm Examination
Coverage: Unit 1. Route Surveying
Unit 2. Railroad and Highway Curves
Unit 3. Horizontal Curves
-Geometry of Simple Curves
- Methods of Laying Out Simple Curves
Type of Exam: Objective Type, Problem Solving, Essay

Problem 4

It is required to layout a simple curve by deflection angles. The curve is to connect two
tangents with an intersection angle of 32° and a radius of 240 m. Compute the deflection
angles to each 20 m full stations on the curve. If the transit is set up at the P.C. which is at
station 5+767.2. What is the stationing of the P.T.?

Problem 5

Two tangents intersect at V at station 12+705.84. The angle of intersection is 34°. The
stationing of P.C. is 12+628. Without changing the location of P.C. and the sharpness of
the curve, it is desired to shorten the length of curve by 50 meters. Determine the
stationing of the new point of intersection (P.I.) and new point of tangency (P.T.).
Problem 4

Two tangents intersect at V at station 12+705.84. The angle of intersection is 34°. The
stationing of P.C. is 12+628. Without changing the location of P.C. and the sharpness of
the curve, it is desired to shorten the length of curve by 50 meters. Determine the
stationing of the new point of intersection (P.I.) and new point of tangency (P.T.).

Solution:

T V or PI
I = 34°
PIN
PTN
TN
L1
50m PT
PC

θ
α
R 34°

Solve for Tangent Distance:

T = stationV − stationPC
T = 12705.84 − 12628
T = 77.84m

Solve for Radius:

T 77.84
R= R= R = 254.60m
I 34°
tan tan
2 2
Solve for θ:
L = Rθ 50 = ( 254.60 ) θ θ = 11°15'

Solve for α:
α = I −θ α = 34° − 11°15' α = 22°45 '

Solve for TN:

α 22°45'
TN = R tan TN = 254.60 tan TN = 51.22m
2 2

Solve for PIN or VN:

PI N = stationPC + TN PI N = (12 + 628 ) + 51.22 PI N = 12 + 679.22

Solve for L1:

L1 = Rα L1 = ( 254.6 ) 22°45 ' L1 = 101.09m

Solve for stationing of PTN:

PTN = stationPC + L1 PTN = (12 + 628 ) + 101.09 PTN = 12 + 729.09