Horizontal Curves
• Horizontal Curves
1. Simple Curve
– is a circular curve used to connect two tangents
intersecting at a point.
• Elements of a Simple
Curve
1. Point of curvature (PC)
the point where the curve
leaves the first tangent;
sometimes this point is called
TC or tangent to curve.
2. Point of tangency (PT)
the point where the curve
joints the second tangent;
sometimes called CT or curve
to tangent.
3. Vertex (V) – the point of
intersection of the tangents;
also called PI or point of
intersection.
• Elements of a Simple
Curve
8. Radius (R) – radius of the
curve.
9. Angle of intersection (I) –
the deflection angle between
the tangents.
10. Degree of curve (D)
Arc Basis
Chord Basis
• Elements of a Simple
Curve
• Arc basis – In highway
practice where the radius
are usually short and
usually the distances are
considered to be the same
as along the arc, the
degree of the curve is the
angle at the center
subtended by an arc of
one full station.
• Elements of a Simple
Curve
• Chord basis – Where the curve
is relatively of long radius,
distances along the arc of the
curve are connected to be the
same as along the chord. This is
the angle subtended by the
chord of one full station. Most
railways work uses this degree of
curve.
In metric system,
1 full chord = 1 full station = 20m;
In English,
1 full chord = 1 full station = 100ft.
• Elements of a Simple
Curve
11. Sub-chord (C) – chord
less than 1 full station.
12. Sub-angle (d) – angle at
the center subtended by a
sub-chord.
13. Length of curve (Lc) –
total distance from the PC
to PT.
• • Formulas
•Radius, R
Arc basis 𝑅 =
Chord basis 𝑅 =
•Tangent Distance, T
𝑇 = 𝑅tan
•External distance, E
𝐸 = 𝑅 (sec − 1)
•Middle ordinate, m
m = 𝑅 (1 − cos )
• • Formulas
•Long chord, LC
𝐿𝐶 = 2𝑅𝑠𝑖𝑛
•Length of curve, Lc
𝐿𝐶 =
𝐿𝐶 =
•Sub-angle
𝑑1 = 𝑑2 =
• Formulas
•Sta. PC = Sta. V – T
•Sta. PT = Sta. PC + Lc
• Notes
1. In route surveying,
azimuth is measured from
the south.
2. To obtain c1 think of a
station (divisible by 20,
greater than sta. PC)
wherein if subtracted to
sta. PC, its value must be
less than 20; also to obtain
c2 think of a station
(divisible by 20, less than
sta. PT) wherein if you
subtract it to sta. PT, its
value must be less than 20.
Sample Problems:
• Two tangents of a simple curve have azimuths of
248°15’ and 294°30’ are connected by a 4.2°
curve. If sta. V is at 7 + 196.25, compute the
other elements of the curve.
▫ Given:
𝐴𝑧𝑖𝑚𝐵𝑇 = 248°15′
𝐴𝑧𝑖𝑚𝐹𝑇 = 294°30′
𝐷 = 4.2°
𝑆𝑡𝑎.𝑉 = 7 + 196.25
▫ Required: Compute the other elements.
• Solution:
Note: to solve for the other elements of a simple curve,
solve first the angle of intersection and radius. If you can
see the formulas of other elements I and R is the
requirement.
• Like problem no.2 to solve I, subtract again the given
azimuth of back tangent and forward tangent.
𝐼 = 294°30′ − 248°15′
𝑰 = 𝟒𝟔° 15’
𝑅=
𝑅=
𝑹 = 𝟐𝟕𝟐.𝟖𝟒 𝒎
• Tangent, T
𝑇 = 272.84[tan ]
𝑻 = 𝟏𝟏𝟔.𝟐𝟒 𝒎.
External Distance, E
𝐸 =272.84 (sec − 1)
𝑬 = 𝟐𝟑.𝟖𝟒 𝒎.
Middle Ordinate, M
m = 272.84(1 − cos )
𝑴 = 𝟐𝟏.𝟗𝟐 𝒎.
• Long Chord, LC
𝐿𝐶 = 2(272.84)𝑠𝑖𝑛
𝑳𝑪 = 𝟐𝟏𝟒.𝟑𝟏 𝒎
Length of the curve, 𝐿𝑐
𝐿𝐶 =
𝑳c= 𝟐𝟐𝟎.𝟐𝟒 𝒎
Alternative Solution
𝐿𝐶 =
𝐿𝐶 =
𝑳c = 𝟐𝟐𝟎.𝟐𝟒 𝒎
Station of Point of Curvature,
Sta. PC 𝑆𝑡𝑎.𝑃𝐶 = 𝑆𝑡𝑎.𝑉 – 𝑇
𝑆𝑡𝑎.𝑃𝐶 = (7 + 196.25) − 116.24 𝑚
𝑺𝒕𝒂.𝑷𝑪 = 𝟕 + 𝟎𝟖𝟎.𝟎𝟏
Station of point of tangency,
Sta. PT 𝑆𝑡𝑎.𝑃𝑇 = 𝑆𝑡𝑎.𝑃𝐶 + 𝐿𝐶
𝑆𝑡𝑎.𝑃𝐶 = (7 + 080.01) + 220.25 𝑚
𝑺𝒕𝒂.𝑷𝑻 = 𝟕 + 𝟑𝟎𝟎.𝟐𝟓
• Sub – angles
𝑑1 = 𝑑2 =
To obtain c1 think of a station (divisible by 20, greater than sta. PC)
wherein if subtracted to sta. PC, its value must be less than 20; also
to obtain c2 think of a station (divisible by 20, less than sta. PT)
wherein if you subtract it to sta. PT, its value must be less than 20.
𝐶1 = ( 7 + 100) − 𝑆𝑡𝑎.𝑃𝐶
𝐶1 = (7 + 100) − (7 + 080.01)
𝑪𝟏 = 𝟏𝟗.𝟗𝟗 𝒎
𝐶2 = 𝑆𝑡𝑎. 𝑃𝑇 − (7 + 300)
𝐶2 = (7 + 300.25) − (7 + 300)
𝑪𝟐 = 𝟎.𝟐𝟓 𝒎
• 𝑑1 =
𝑑2 =
•
Sample Problems:
• The deflection angle of two intermediate points A & B of
a simple curve are 3°15’and 8°15’ respectively, from the
PC. If the chord distance between A & B is 30m. Find the
station of A & B if sta. PC is 4 + 120. Determine also the
length of the curves from A to B.
▫ Given:
3°15’
8°15
Sta. PC = (4+120)
β = 2θB - 2θA = 2(8˚15’) – 2(3˚15’) = 10˚
Consider half of the triangle: Solve for R and D
Sin 5˚= ; R=172.06m
𝑅=
172.106 =
D = 6.658˚
• For
the Stations of point A and B
Sta. A = Sta. PC + Lc-A
Lc-A = = 19.525m
Sta. A = (4+120) + 19.525 = (4+139.525)
Sta. B = Sta. PC + Lc-B
Lc-B = = 49.564m
Sta. B = (4+120) + 49.564 = (4+169.564)
• Length of the curve AB
Lc A-B= Lc-B - Lc-A = 49.564 – 19.525 = 30.038m
• Horizontal Curves
2. Compound Curve
-is a horizontal curve composed of two or more
circular arcs of radii tangent to each other with
their centers on the same side of the common
tangent.
• Elements of
Compound Curve
▫ PC – point of curvature
▫ PT – point tangency
▫ PI – point of intersection
or V – vertex
▫ PCC – point of compound
curve
▫ T1 – length of tangent of
the first curve
•
• Elements of
Compound Curve
▫ T2 – length of tangent of the
second curve
▫ V1 – vertex of the first curve
▫ V2 – vertex of the second
curve
▫ – central angle of the first
curve
▫ – central angle of the
second curve
•
• Elements of
Compound Curve
▫ I – angle of intersection
=
▫ Lc1 – length of first
curve
▫ Lc2 – length of second
curve
▫ – length of first chord
▫ – length of second chord
•
• Elements of
Compound Curve
▫ L – length of the chord
from PC to PT.
▫ + = length of common
tangent measured from V1
to V2
▫ Θ=180°-I
▫ x and y can be found from
triangle V1-V2-PI.
▫ TL = x + T1
•
• Elements of
Compound Curve
▫ Ts = y +
▫ L can be found from
triangle PC-PCC-PT
▫ Given the stationing of PC
Sta. PT = Sta. PC + +
▫ Given the stationing of PI
or V
Sta. PT = Sta. PI – x – T1 + +
Sta. PT = Sta. PI –TL + +
• Elements of
Compound Curve
Notes:
▫ x and y can be found
from triangle V1-V2-
PI.
▫ L can be found from
triangle PC-PCC-PT
• Sample Problem:
▫ A compound curve has the following elements.
I1=30˚, D1 =4˚, I2 = 24˚, and D2 = 5˚. If the
stationing of the vertex is (4+620),
a. Determine the stationing of PC.
b. Find the stationing of PCC.
c. Determine the Stationing of PT.
• Solution:
Solve for I, R1, R2, T1, and T2
• I = I1 + I2 = 30˚ + 24˚ = 54˚
• 𝑅1 = = =286.479m
• 𝑅2 = = = 229.183
• 𝑇1 = 𝑅1tan = 286.479 tan =76.762m
• 𝑇2 = 𝑅2tan = 229.183 tan = 48.714m
• Solution:
a. Sta. PC = Sta. V – x -T1
To solve x, consider and use Sine Law,
=
x=
x = 63.084m
Sta. PC = (4+620) – 63.084 – 76.762
Sta. PC = (4+480.154)
• Solution:
• Sta. PCC = Sta. PC + Lc1
Sta. PCC = (4+480.154) +
Sta. PCC = (4+630.154)
• Sta. of PT = Sta. PCC + Lc2
Sta. PT= (4+630.154) +
Sta. PT= (4+726.154)
