Setting out

Curves
Horizontal_Transition
• The purpose of s transition curve is to enable a fast
moving vehicle to transition into a circular curve
SAFELY and COMFORTABLY.

Transition Curves
Transition Curves
• Transition curves form part of the geometric design
process of a road. Geometric design includes Vertical and
Horizontal alignment

Transition Curves
• Used on National roads where design speed is high (100km/h?)
and curve radius is less than 250m.

• Used where super-elevation is greater than 6%

• Used on all railway curves.

• Specified according to their design Radius and Length

• Turn either to the Right or to the Left as observed in the

direction of increasing SKD’s (aka SV’s aka Ch)

Transition Curves
• Design information is displayed on the Layout drawing
and on the Longitudinal Section

Transition Curves
Transition curves
 Setting out of the curve requires some calculations to
produce setting out data.

Please tabulate your setting out data

Transition Curves
 HOW IT WORKS

In order to make a turn the vehicle must negotiate three

sections of curve

• First transition into the curve from the straight

• The Circular Curve
• The second transition from the circular curve into the
straight.

In effect we have to set out three curves to form one full

Transitional curve (transition, circular, transition)

Transition Curves
 Normal circular curve

Transition Curves
Circular curve is shifted down

Transitions between straight and

curve

Transition is a section
of a spiral

Transition Curves
Transition Curves
Transtion Curves
Standard Formulas
𝒔𝟐 𝑳
• 𝝓= and where s = L then 𝚽𝑳 =
𝟐𝑳𝑹 𝟐𝑹 L = length of spiral/transition
R = radius of circular curve
𝝓𝟐 𝚽𝟐 d = length to point on spiral (chord)
• 𝒙=𝒔 𝟏− When s = L then 𝑿 = 𝑳 𝟏 − ϕ= spiral angle along spiral
𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎
Φ= spiral angle at end of spiral
𝝓 𝝓𝟑 𝚽 𝚽𝟑 T = tangent length from BTC to PI
• 𝒚=𝒔 − When s = L then 𝒀 = 𝑳 −
𝟑 𝟏𝟎𝟓 𝟑 𝟏𝟎𝟓

• 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒇𝒕 = 𝒀 − 𝑹 𝟏 − 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝜱

𝑰
• 𝑻 = 𝑿 − 𝑹𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜱 + 𝑹 + 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝒕𝒂𝒏
𝟐

𝒚 𝝓𝒔
• Chord angle 𝜽𝒔 = 𝒕𝒂𝒏−𝟏 =
𝒙 𝟑

• Chord length 𝒅 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐

Transition Curves
 MOST BASIC T-CURVE CENTRE LINE SETTING OUT
PROCEDURE FOR TECHNICIANS
Curve Right from BTC to BCC

• Set out the start and the end of the straights (PI’s)
• Measure the Tangent length from the PI back to the BTC and ETC
• Set up the instrument at the BTC and orientate 0°00’00” onto the PI (360°00’00” for a
LH curve)
• Turn off the off-set angle θ1 and measure the distance to the first full SKD peg. Place
the centreline peg
• Turn off the cumulative off-set angle θ1 + θ2 and measure the chord distance to the next
SKD peg. Place the peg. (Subtract from 360° for LH transition)
• Continue to turn of the cumulative off-set angles until the last full SKD peg is placed.
• To close on the BCC turn off the cumulative angles (∑θ’s) and measure the chord
length from the BTC to the BCC.

Transition Curves
 EXAMPLE

A right hand transitional curve with a 500m radius and 80m transition lengths must be
placed between two straights that intersect at 27°

Provide tabulated centreline setting out data for the transition between the ECC and
ETC. The SV at the BTC is 44.381m. Use a 10m peg intervals for the transition.

Transition Curves
 27°

Draw the curve and fill in the data on the sketch

BCC ECC

BTC = 44.456m ETC

Transition Curves
 The curve must be set out in 10m peg intervals. We must
therefore find the SV of ETC to work out the length to the
next full SV (in multiples of 10m).

To find the SV of the ETC we need to add the arc length of

the circular curve and the lengths of the transitions to the SV
at the BTC.

SV 44.381m + 2L + arc = SV at ETC

Transition Curves
Transition Curves
 FINDING THE SV OF THE ETC

𝑨𝒓𝒄 𝑳𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒊𝒓𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒓 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒗𝒆 = 𝑹 × 𝑰𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒔

𝝅
Therefore, 𝑨 = 𝑹 𝑰 − 𝟐𝚽 ×
𝟏𝟖𝟎
𝑳
Where 𝚽 =
𝟐𝑹

• 𝚽 = 0.08
• A = 155.619m

The SV at the ETC is therefore….

44.381m + 80 + 80 + 155.619 = SV 360.087m (measured from

the start of the road)

Transition Curves
 To place the points on the curve you are required to work
out the spiral angle for every interval along the spiral (s).
The value of “s” accumulates as we move along the spiral.

𝑠2 𝐿
𝜙= and where s = L then 𝛷𝐿 =
2𝐿𝑅 2𝑅

In this example the distance from SV 360 to SV 350 is 10m.

The distance to the SV 340 is 20m and the distance to SV 330
is 30m etc.

Our table will start at the ETC and move towards the ECC.
The values of “s” will increase as we approach the ECC.

Transition Curves
 Once the spiral angle is determined for a distance “s” we
can calculate the distances “y” and “x” using the standard
formulas.
𝒔𝟐 𝝓𝟐 𝝓 𝝓𝟑
𝝓= 𝒙= 𝒔 𝟏− 𝒚=𝒔 −
𝟐𝑳𝑹 𝟏𝟎 𝟑 𝟏𝟎𝟓

to SV s 𝜙 x y

350 10 0.00125 9.999m 0.004m

340 20 0.005 19.999m 0.033m

330 30 0.01125 29.999m 0.112m

320 40 0.02 39.998m 0.266m

280 (ECC) 80 0.08 79.948m 2.133m

The change in x is along the straight towards the PI. The change in y is perpendicular
to the straight.

Transition Curves
 For this example the total station is oriented to 360°00’00” along the straight to the PI.
To set out the points we must determine the direction from the straight to the centre line
peg. In order to do this we must subtract the polar angle given by the change in x and
y for each interval from 360°00’00”.

to SV x y polar θ

ETC 360°00’00”.

350 9.999m 0.004m 0°01’22” 359°58’38”

340 19.999m 0.033m 0°05’40” 359°54’20”

330 29.999m 0.112m 0°12’50” 359°47’10”

320 39.998m 0.266m 0°22’51” 359°37’09”

280 (ECC) 79.948m 2.133m 1°31’41’’ 358°28’19”

Transition Curves
 To place the pegs we can measure the peg interval from one peg to the other and line
up with the orientated direction previously calculated.

Alternatively we can calculate the distance from the ETC to each peg using Pythagoras
and the change in x and y. This is useful for placing by coordinates.

to SV x y polar θ d

ETC 360°00’00”. 0

350 9.999m 0.004m 0°01’22” 359°58’38” 9.999m

340 19.999m 0.033m 0°05’40” 359°54’20” 19.999m

330 29.999m 0.112m 0°12’50” 359°47’10” 29.999m

320 39.998m 0.266m 0°22’51” 359°37’09” 39.998m

280 (ECC) 79.948m 2.133m 1°31’41’’ 358°28’19” 79.976m

Transition Curves
 EXERCISE

Calculate the full setting out data for a LH curve with a radius of 450m and transition
lengths of 80m. The deflection angle of the straights is 25°10’20”. The projected SV
at the end of the starting straight is 5194m (PI).

Transition Curves
 SETTING OUT THE CIRCULAR PORTION OF THE CURVE

In setting out the circular portion of the curve the setting out data is calculated in the
same way as for a regular circular curve.

The most significant difference is in the way we orientate our instruments. We would
usually orientate onto the PI with a direction of either 0° or 360 ° depending on the
direction of the curve.

In the case of the circular component of transitional curves we base our orientation on
the direction to the BTC.

The direction to the BTC is given by the formula:

2 𝐿 180
𝐷𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝐵𝑇𝐶 = 180° − Φ𝐿 where Φ𝐿 = 𝑥
3 2𝑅 𝜋

Transition Curves
• Roads are not constructed around centreline pegs. During
construction profiles are placed along the edge of the road to
delineate the road horizontal alignment. These profiles are
also used to construct the road to the correct vertical
alignment.

• When setting out a curve these profiles are placed

perpendicular to the road centre line. The line extends from
the origin of the curve radius through the centreline pegs on
the curve.

• The profiles are offset at a standard distance from the

centreline. Enough space must be allowed for the box-cut and
working space for the grader.

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Transition Curves
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Transition Curves