Reverse Curve
Engr. May Z. Valdez
1st Sem, SY 2024-2025
Objectives:
1. Identify the elements of reverse
curve.
2. Compute the elements of the reverse
curve.
Engineering Surveys - MZV 2
Reverse Curve
A reverse curve is a
horizontal circular
curve that consists of
2 or more simple
curves bending in
opposite direction.
Engineering Surveys - MZV 3
Elements of a Reverse Curve
a. With parallel
tangents
Engineering Surveys - MZV 4
Elements of a Reverse Curve
b. With
converging
tangents
Engineering Surveys - MZV 5
Elements of a Reverse Curve
c. With
intermediate
tangent
Engineering Surveys - MZV 6
Elements of a Reverse Curve
PC – the beginning of the reverse curve
PRC – point of reverse curve. It is the
common point of simple curves
PT – the end of the reverse curve
V1, V2 – vertices of the simple curves
T – common tangent from V1 to V2
T1, T2 – tangents of the simple curves
C1, C2 – chord of the simple curves
R1, R2 – radii of simple curves
LC1, LC2 – length of curve of simple curves
I1, I2 –angles of intersection of simple
curves
θ – angle of convergence/divergence
X – intermediate tangent
Engineering Surveys - MZV 7
Additional Formula
𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝑅𝐶 = 𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝐶 + 𝐿𝐶1
𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝑇 = 𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝑅𝐶 + 𝐿𝐶2
Engineering Surveys - MZV 8
Problem
The perpendicular distance between two parallel tangents is
15 m; central angle equal to 10°; and the radius of curvature
of the first curve is 250 m. Find the stationing of the PRC, PT
and full stations if the reverse curve starts at 2+000.
Engineering Surveys - MZV 9
Solution:
Engineering Surveys - MZV 10
Solution:
𝑎 + 𝑏 = 15
(𝑅1 −𝑅1 cos 𝐼1 ) + (𝑅2 − 𝑅2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝐼2 ) = 15
(250 − 250 cos 10°) + (𝑅2 − 𝑅2 𝑐𝑜𝑠10°) = 15
𝑹𝟐 = 𝟕𝟑𝟕. 𝟑𝟓 𝒎
𝜋𝑅1 𝐼1
𝐿𝐶1 =
180°
𝜋(250)(10°)
𝐿𝐶1 =
180°
𝑳𝑪𝟏 = 𝟒𝟑. 𝟔𝟑 𝒎
Engineering Surveys - MZV 11
Solution:
𝜋𝑅2 𝐼2
𝐿𝐶2 =
180°
𝜋(737.35)(10°)
𝐿𝐶2 =
180°
𝑳𝑪𝟐 = 𝟏𝟐𝟖. 𝟔𝟗 𝒎
𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝑅𝐶 = 𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝐶 + 𝐿𝐶1
𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝑅𝐶 = (2 + 000) + 43.63 𝑚
𝒔𝒕𝒂 𝑷𝑹𝑪 = 𝟐 + 𝟎𝟒𝟑. 𝟔𝟑
Engineering Surveys - MZV 12
Solution:
𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝑇 = 𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝑅𝐶 + 𝐿𝐶2
𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝑇 = (2 + 043.63) + 128.69
𝒔𝒕𝒂 𝑷𝑻 = 𝟐 + 𝟏𝟕𝟐. 𝟑𝟐
𝟏𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 = 𝟐 + 𝟎𝟐𝟎
𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 = 𝟐 + 𝟏𝟔𝟎
𝒏 = 𝟖 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔
Engineering Surveys - MZV 13
Problem
A reverse curve connects two converging tangents
intersecting at an angle of 30°. The distance of this
intersection from the vertex of the 2nd simple curve is 150 m.
The deflection angle of the common tangent from the back
tangent is 20°R and the azimuth of the common tangent is
320°. The degree of curve of the 2nd simple curve is 6° and
the stationing of the point of intersection of the 1st simple
curve is 4+450. Determine the stationing of the PC, PRC and
PT.
Engineering Surveys - MZV 14
Solution:
Engineering Surveys - MZV 15
Solution:
1145.916
𝑅2 =
𝐷2
1145.916
𝑅2 =
6°
𝑹𝟐 = 𝟏𝟗𝟎. 𝟗𝟗 𝒎
𝑇 150 𝜃 = 𝐼2 − 𝐼1
= 30° = 𝐼2 − 20°
sin 30° sin 20°
𝑻 = 𝟐𝟏𝟗. 𝟐𝟗 𝒎 𝑰𝟐 = 𝟓𝟎°
Engineering Surveys - MZV 16
Solution:
𝑇 = 𝑇1 + 𝑇2
𝐼1 𝐼2
𝑇 = 𝑅1 tan + 𝑅2 tan
2 2
20° 50°
219.29 = 𝑅1 tan + 190.99 tan
2 2
𝑹𝟏 = 𝟕𝟑𝟖. 𝟓𝟕 𝒎
Engineering Surveys - MZV 17
Solution:
𝐼1
𝑇1 = 𝑅1 tan
2
20°
𝑇1 = 738.57 tan
2
𝑻𝟏 = 𝟏𝟑𝟎. 𝟐𝟑 𝒎
𝜋𝑅1 𝐼1 𝜋𝑅2 𝐼2
𝐿𝐶1 = 𝐿𝐶2 =
180° 180°
𝜋(738.57)(20°) 𝜋(190.99)(50°)
𝐿𝐶1 = 𝐿𝐶2 =
180° 180°
𝑳𝑪𝟏 = 𝟐𝟓𝟕. 𝟖𝟏 𝒎 𝑳𝑪𝟐 = 𝟏𝟔𝟔. 𝟔𝟕 𝒎
Engineering Surveys - MZV 18
Solution:
𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑉1 = 𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝐶 + 𝑇1
4 + 450 = 𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝐶 + 130.23
𝒔𝒕𝒂 𝑷𝑪 = 𝟒 + 𝟑𝟏𝟗. 𝟕𝟕
𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝑅𝐶 = 𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝐶 + 𝐿𝐶1
𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝑅𝐶 = (4 + 319.77) + 257.81 𝑚
𝒔𝒕𝒂 𝑷𝑹𝑪 = 𝟒 + 𝟓𝟕𝟕. 𝟓𝟖
𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝑇 = 𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝑅𝐶 + 𝐿𝐶2
𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝑇 = (4 + 577.58) + 166.67
𝒔𝒕𝒂 𝑷𝑻 = 𝟒 + 𝟕𝟒𝟒. 𝟐𝟓
Engineering Surveys - MZV 19
Problem
Suppose in the previous problem, there is an intermediate
tangent of 25 m. Determine the full stations.
Engineering Surveys - MZV 20
Solution:
Engineering Surveys - MZV 21
Solution:
1145.916
𝑅2 =
𝐷2
1145.916
𝑅2 =
6°
𝑹𝟐 = 𝟏𝟗𝟎. 𝟗𝟗 𝒎
𝑇 150 𝜃 = 𝐼2 − 𝐼1
= 30° = 𝐼2 − 20°
sin 30° sin 20°
𝑻 = 𝟐𝟏𝟗. 𝟐𝟗 𝒎 𝑰𝟐 = 𝟓𝟎°
Engineering Surveys - MZV 22
Solution:
𝑇 = 𝑇1 + 𝑋 + 𝑇2
𝐼1 𝐼2
𝑇 = 𝑅1 tan + 25 + 𝑅2 tan
2 2
20° 50°
219.29 = 𝑅1 tan + 25 + 190.99 tan
2 2
𝑹𝟏 = 𝟓𝟗𝟔. 𝟕𝟗 𝒎
Engineering Surveys - MZV 23
Solution:
𝐼1
𝑇1 = 𝑅1 tan
2
20°
𝑇1 = 596.79 tan
2
𝑻𝟏 = 𝟏𝟎𝟓. 𝟐𝟑 𝒎
𝜋𝑅1 𝐼1 𝜋𝑅2 𝐼2
𝐿𝐶1 = 𝐿𝐶2 =
180° 180°
𝜋(596.79)(20°) 𝜋(190.99)(50°)
𝐿𝐶1 = 𝐿𝐶2 =
180° 180°
𝑳𝑪𝟏 = 𝟐𝟎𝟖. 𝟑𝟐𝒎 𝑳𝑪𝟐 = 𝟏𝟔𝟔. 𝟔𝟕 𝒎
Engineering Surveys - MZV 24
Solution:
𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑉1 = 𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝐶 + 𝑇1
4 + 450 = 𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝐶 + 105.23
𝒔𝒕𝒂 𝑷𝑪 = 𝟒 + 𝟑𝟒𝟒. 𝟕𝟕
𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝑇 = 𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝐶 + 𝐿𝑐1 + 𝑋 + 𝐿𝐶2
𝑠𝑡𝑎 𝑃𝑇 = 4 + 344.77 + 208.32 + 25 + 166.67
𝒔𝒕𝒂 𝑷𝑻 = 𝟒 + 𝟕𝟒𝟒. 𝟕𝟔
1𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 4 + 360
1𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 4 + 740
𝒏 = 𝟐𝟎 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔
Engineering Surveys - MZV 25
Thank you for your participation!
Engineering Surveys - MZV 26
