COMPOUND CURVES

A compound curve is a curve that consists of two or more consecutive simple curves having different radius but whose
centers are on the same side of the curve.

P.I.
I = I1 + I2

TA

A (V1)
I1

20m
T1
Lc1
P.C.C.
P.C. I1 TB
CL1
T2 I2

B (V2)
Lc2
D1
CL CL2
20m

R1
D2 I2

I2 P.T.
R2
I1 O2

O1
ELEMENTS OF A COMPOUND CURVE:
Point of Intersection (PI)
The point of intersection marks the point where the backward tangent of the first curve (T1) intersects with the forward tangent of
the second curve (T2).

Point of Curvature (PC)

The point of curvature is the point where the compound curve begins. It is the point of tangency where the compound curve leaves
the backward tangent.

Point of Tangency (PT)

The point of tangency is the point where the compound curve ends. It is the point of tangency where the compound curve meets the
forward tangent.

Common Tangent (AB)

The tangent where the two simple curves join.

𝐓𝐀𝐁 = 𝐓𝟏 + 𝐓𝟐

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Faculty, CIT-U – CE Department
Point of Compound Curve (PCC)
The point located at the common tangent where the two simple curves join.

Length of Compound Curve (Lcc)

The total length of curve from the P.C. to the P.T.

𝐋𝐜𝐜 = 𝐋𝐜𝟏 + 𝐋𝐜𝟐

Backward Tangent of the Compound Curve (TA)

The tangent where the P.C. is located.

Forward Tangent of the Compound Curve (TB)

The tangent where the P.T. is located.

Angle of Intersection (I)

The deflection angle of the forward tangent from the backward tangent of the compound curve.

𝐈 = 𝐈𝟏 + 𝐈𝟐

Long Chord of Compound Curve (CL)

The chord drawn from P.C. to P.T.

CL1 and CL2

The chord lengths of the first and second curve, respectively.

T1 and T2
The tangent distances of the first and second curve, respectively.

D1 and D2
The degree of curvature of the first and second curve, respectively.

R1 and R2
The radius of the first and second curve, respectively.

I1 and I2
The central angles of the first and second curve, respectively.

A (V1) and B (V2)

The angles of intersection or vertices of the first and second curve, respectively.

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
1. The common tangent of a compound curve is 76.42m with an azimuth (south) of 288°30’. The vertex V is inaccessible. The
azimuths tangent AV and BV was measured to be 267°50’ and 302°50’. If the station at A is 43+010.46m and the angle
between full station of the first curve is 4° based on the 20-m chord and using chord basis, Determine the:

a. Station of P.C.
b. Station of P.C.C.
c. Station of P.T.
d. Station of P.I.

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Faculty, CIT-U – CE Department
Solution:
P.I.
288°30’
I = I1 + I2
43+010.46m
TA

A (V1)
I1
267°50’ T1
20m
Lc1
P.C.C.
P.C. 302°50’
T2 I2

B (V2)
Lc2
D1 = 4°

R1

I2 P.T.
R2
I1 O2

O1

A. STATIONING of P.C. B. STATIONING of P.C.C. RADIUS OF CURVE 2

I
CENTRAL ANGLE OF CURVE 1 LENGTH OF CURVE 1
π
T2 = R 2 tan 22
′
I1 = 288°30′ − 267°50 Lc1 = R1 I1 (180°) 14°20′
𝐈𝟏 = 𝟐𝟎°4𝟎′ π
24.17 = R 2 tan 2
Lc1 = 286.54(20°40′)(180°) 𝐑 𝟐 = 𝟏𝟗𝟐. 𝟐𝟐 𝐦
𝐋𝐜𝟏 = 𝟏𝟎𝟑. 𝟑𝟔 𝐦
RADIUS OF CURVE 1 (chord basis) STATIONING OF P.C.C. LENGTH OF CURVE 2
D 10m π
sin 2 = Sta. of P.C.C. = (Sta. of P.C.) + Lc1 Lc2 = R 2 I2(180°)
R1
4° 10m
= (42 + 958.21) + 103.36 Lc2 = 192.22(14°20′)(180°)
π
sin = Sta. of P.T. = 43 + 061.57m ANS.
2 R1
𝐋𝐜𝟐 = 𝟒𝟖. 𝟎𝟗 𝐦
𝐑 𝟏 = 𝟐𝟖𝟔. 𝟓𝟒 𝐦
TANGENT DISTANCE OF CURVE 1 C. STATIONING of P.T. STATIONING OF P.T.
I1
T1 = R1 tan 2 CENTRAL ANGLE OF CURVE 2 Sta. of P.T. = (Sta. of P.C.C.) + Lc2
20°40′ I2 = 302°50′ − 288°30′ = (43 + 061.57) + 48.09
T1 = 286.54 tan 𝐈𝟐 = 𝟏𝟒°2𝟎′ Sta. of P.T. = 43 + 109.66m ANS.
2
𝐓𝟏 = 𝟓𝟐. 𝟐𝟓 𝐦
STATIONING OF P.C. TANGENT DISTANCE OF CURVE 2
Sta. of P.C. = (Sta. of A) – T TAB = T1 + T2
= (43 + 010.46) – 52.25 76.42= 52.25 + T2
= (42 + 1,010.46) – 52.25 T2 = 24.17 m
Sta. of P.C. = 42 + 958.21m ANS.

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Faculty, CIT-U – CE Department
Considering triangle AVB:
by Sine Law, V (P.I.)
AV 76.42m
sin 14°20′
= sin 145°
I = 145°
𝐀𝐕 = 𝟑𝟐. 𝟗𝟖 𝐦

Thus,
STATIONING OF P.I. A (V1)
Sta. of P.I. = (Sta. of A) + AV I1 = 20°40’
= (43 + 010.46) + 32.98
Sta. of P.I. = 43 + 043.44m ANS.

OR,
Sta. of P.I. = (Sta. of P.C.) + TA 76.42 m
= (Sta. of P.C.) + (T1 + AV) I2 = 14°20’
= (42 + 958.21) + (52.25+32.98)
Sta. of P.I. = 43 + 043.44m ANS.
B (V2)

2. The long chord of the compound curve is 300m long and the angle it makes with the forward and backward tangent are 15°
and 12°, respectively. If the common tangent is parallel to the long chord and P.C. is at 10+204.30m, find the:
a. Radius of each curve
b. Length of the compound curve V (P.I.)
c. Station of the Vertex (P.I.) and the P.T.
I = I1 + I2

153°
TA

10+204.30m A I1 = 12°

T1
I1
Lc1
= 6° P.C.C.
2 TB
P.C. 12°
CL1
Ɵ = 6°
Φ = 166°30’ T2
I2 = 15°

Lc2 B

CL2
300m
R1
I2
= 7°30′
β = 7°30’ 2

15°

I1 I2 P.T.
R2
O1 O2
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Solution:

A. RADIUS OF EACH CURVE LENGTH OF CURVE 2 COMMON TANGENT TAB

π
Considering triangle PC-PCC-PT: Lc2 = R 2 I2( ) TAB = T1 + T2
180°
by Sine Law, π = 84.33 + 67.74
CL1 300m Lc2 = 514.57(15°)(180°)
= TAB = 152.07 m ANS.
sin 7°30′ sin 166°30′ 𝐋𝐜𝟐 = 𝟏𝟑𝟒. 𝟕𝟏 𝐦
𝐂𝐋𝟏 = 𝟏𝟔𝟕. 𝟕𝟒 𝐦
and, LENGTH OF COMPOUND CURVE Considering triangle A-V-B:
CL2 300m Lcc = Lc1 + Lc2 by Sine Law,
sin 6°
= sin 166°30′ AV 152.07m
= 168.05 + 134.71 =
𝐂𝐋𝟐 = 𝟏𝟑𝟒. 𝟑𝟑 𝐦 sin 15° sin 153°
Lcc = 302.76 m ANS.
𝐀𝐕 = 𝟖𝟔. 𝟔𝟗 𝐦
RADIUS OF CURVE 1 C. STATION OF P.I AND P.T. STATIONING OF P.I.
I1
CL1 = 2R1 sin 2 STATIONING OF P.T. Sta. of P.I. = (Sta. of P.C.) + (T1 + AV)
12° Sta. of P.T. = (Sta. of P.C.) + Lcc = (10 + 204.30) + (84.33+86.69)
167.74 = 2R1 sin
2 = (10 + 204.30) + 302.76 Sta. of P.I. = 10 + 375.32m ANS.
𝐑 𝟏 = 𝟖𝟎𝟐. 𝟑𝟕 𝐦 ANS. Sta. of P.T. = 10 + 507.06m ANS.
RADIUS OF CURVE 2 TANGENT DISTANCE OF CURVE 1 OR,
I2 I1 Considering triangle PC-PI-PT:
CL2 = 2R 2 sin 2 T1 = R1 tan 2
15° 12° by Sine Law,
134.33 = 2R 2 sin 2 T1 = 802.37 tan TA 300m
2
sin 15°
= sin 153°
𝐑 𝟐 = 𝟓𝟏𝟒. 𝟓𝟕 𝐦 ANS. 𝐓𝟏 = 𝟖𝟒. 𝟑𝟑 𝐦
𝐓𝐀 = 𝟏𝟕𝟏. 𝟎𝟑 𝐦
B. LENGTH OF COMPOUND CURVE TANGENT DISTANCE OF CURVE 2 STATIONING OF P.I.
I
LENGTH OF CURVE 1 T2 = R 2 tan 22 Sta. of P.I. = (Sta. of P.C.) + TA
π
Lc1 = R1 I1 (180°) 15° = (10 + 204.30) + 171.03
π
T2 = 514.57 tan Sta. of P.I. = 10 + 375.33m ANS.
2
Lc1 = 802.37(12°)(180°)
𝐑 𝟐 = 𝟔𝟕. 𝟕𝟒 𝐦
𝐋𝐜𝟏 = 𝟏𝟔𝟖. 𝟎𝟓 𝐦
V
3.
I = I1 + I2
1+125. 92m

B 16°20’
20m
m Lc1
A C
P.C
. 13°30
’
D
Lc2
D1=3°30’
Given the compound curve with the vertex V 20m
inaccessible, angles VBD and VDB are equal to
R1
16°20’ and 13°30’, respectively. Stationing at B is at
D2=4°00’
1+125. 92m. Degrees of curve are 3°30’ and 4°00’
for the first and second curve, respectively. It is
I2 P.T
desired to substitute the compound curve with a R2 .
simple curve that shall end with the same P.T. I1 O
Determine the total length of the simple curve and 2
the station the New P.C. and the old P.T.
O1
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Solution:
V
I = I1 + I2 = I’
I’= 16°20’ + 13°30’
1+125. 92m I’ = 29°50’
T’ 150°10’

B New Simple Curve

16°20’

T1
P.C.’ Lc1
A
P.C. TB = T’
C T2
13°30
’
D
Lc2

R’
R1

I’ P.T
I2
O’ R2 .
I1 O2

O1

RADIUS OF CURVE 1 AND 2 COMMON TANGENT TAB LENGTH OF NEW SIMPLE CURVE
1145.916 π
R1 = 3°30′ TBD = T1 + T2 Lc′ = R′I′(180°)
𝐑 𝟏 = 𝟑𝟐𝟕. 𝟒𝟎 𝐦 = 46.98+ 33.91 Lc′ = 298.96(29°50′)(180°)
π
TBD = 80.89 m
𝐋𝐜′ = 𝟏𝟓𝟓. 𝟔𝟕 𝐦 ANS.
and, LENGTH OF VD LENGTH OF VB
1145.916 Considering triangle V-B-D: Considering triangle V-B-D:
R 2 = 4°00′
by Sine Law, by Sine Law,
𝐑 𝟐 = 𝟐𝟖𝟔. 𝟒𝟖 𝐦 VD 80.89m VB 80.89m
= =
sin 16°20′ sin 150°10′ sin 13°30′ sin 150°10′
𝐕𝐃 = 𝟒𝟓. 𝟕𝟑 𝐦 𝐕𝐁 = 𝟑𝟕. 𝟗𝟔 𝐦
TANGENT DISTANCE OF CURVE 1 TANGENT DISTANCE OF NEW SIMPLE STATIONING OF NEW P.C.
I CURVE (T’) Sta. of P.C.’ = (Sta. of B) + VB – T’
T1 = R1 tan 21
16°20′ TB = T2 + VD = (1 + 125.92) + 37.96 – 79.64
T1 = 327.40 tan = 33.91+ 45.73 Sta. of P.C.’ = 1 + 084.24m ANS.
2
𝐓𝟏 = 𝟒𝟔. 𝟗𝟖 𝐦 TB = 79.64 m = T’
TANGENT DISTANCE OF CURVE 2 RADIUS OF NEW SIMPLE CURVE STATIONING OF OLD P.T.
I2 I′
T2 = R 2 tan T′ = R′ tan Sta. of P.T. = (Sta. of P.C.’) + Lc’
2 2
13°30′ 29°50′ = (1 + 084.24) + 155.67
T2 = 286.48 tan 2
79.64 = R′ tan 2 Sta. of P.T. = 1 + 239.91m ANS.
𝐑 𝟐 = 𝟑𝟑. 𝟗𝟏 𝐦 𝐑′ = 𝟐𝟗𝟖. 𝟗𝟔 𝐦

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