Curve

1 Introduction and classification of curve

2 Designation of Curve
3 Elements of Simple Circular curve
4 Setting out Simple circular curve:
Method of offset from long chord
Method of offset from Tangent
Rankin's Method of deflection angle
Coordinates method
5 Concept of Transition curve
6 Super elevation
7 Introduction to Vertical curve

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 Layout of a curve- Coordinate
method
Layout of a curve is fascilitated by using radial- stakeout techniques.
Instrument can be set at any points whose co-ordinates are known and the desired curve points
visible. Coordinates for instrument locations are established previously by control traversing.

Lets say instrument is at position A , backsight is taken to a point with known coordinates B and the
bearing is calculated b
 •

Coordinates for curve points are determined using precomputed angles.

With known coordinates of intersection point ,bearing of incoming
tangent, deflection angle delta and curve radius R, curve point
coordinates are calculated by first finding co-ordinates for PC.

• With precomputed total deflection angles curve-point coordinates can

be computed as:

• Where x is total arc from PC to curve point

• And dx is the corresponding total deflection angle.
 The layout angle and layout distance are determined as

in this way curve is set out by coordinates

method.
Transition Curve
• A horizontal curve of varying radius
• Introduced between the tangent length and the
circular curve
• Entering from a straight line to the circular, due to
the centrifugal force, passengers feel the jerk
• When the centrifugal force is too high the vehicle
may be overturned
• So transition curve is applied to avoid the abrupt
change in direction from straight to a curve

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Transition Curve
• Advantages:
1. Radius of curvature increases or decreases steadily
2. Gradual transition of curvature from the tangent to a
curve or from a curve to a tangent
3. Allows higher speed at curves
4. Eliminates the danger of overturning or side-slipping
of vehicles
5. The super-elevation can be introduced in convenient
manner (proportion to the rate of change of
curvature)
6. Inconvenience to the passengers is reduced

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Transition Curve

I’

I
Δ

Tr
ve

an
r
cu

siti
on

on
siti

cu
an C1 S C2

rv
Tr

e
Circular Curve

T1 T2
R R
A B

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Transition Curve
• Basic criteria for designing:
1. It should be tangential to the straights at both sides (at T1 and T2)
2. It should be tangential to the curves at both sides (at C1 and C2)
3. Its radius of curvature should be infinity at the origin on the
straight line (at T1 and T2)
4. Its radius of curvature should be equal to that of the circular curve
at the junction of circular curve i.e. radius of curvature should be
minimum at tangential to simple circular curve C1 and C2.
5. Rate of increase of curvature along the transition curve should be
equal to the rate of increase of super-elevation
6. Its length should be such that the full cant or super-elevation is
attained at the junction with the circular curve (at C1 and C2)

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Transition Curve
• Superelevation:
1. Elevation of outer edge of a road or the outer rail
above the inner one
2. Made to overcome the outward motion (radialy
outward from the centre of the curve) of the vehicle
due to the centrifugal force moving in the circular path
3. In fact, superelevation is the vertical distance by which
the outer end is raised above the inner end (i.e. the
different in elevation between the outer and inner end
of the road)
4. Also known as cant

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Transition Curve B

A and B are the inner and outer edge P G

θ

of the road B

h = superelevation in meter h

R = radius of the curve in meter B

θ
A
S
B = width of the road
W

W = weight of the vehicle

G
P = centrifugal force B
θ

θ = angle of superelevation 90 90-θ

90-θ

v = speed of vehicle in m/sec 90 θ A

S W
g = accln due to gravity
(9.81m/sec2)
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Transition Curve
During the motion of vehicle there are two forces
acting on it:
1. The centrifugal force (P) acts through the centre
of gravity (G) of the vehicle in the horizontal
direction
2. The weight (W) acts at the centre of gravity (G) of
the vehicle in the vertical direction
3. The resultant (S) of these two forces should be
perpendicular to the surface of the road

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Transition Curve
We know,
Centrifugal Force (P)
mv 2
 ( m = mass of the vehicle)
R2
Wv P v2
 ( W = mg )  
gR W gR

The ratio P/W is known as the centrifugal ratio

P
Further tan  
W
h h P v2 Bv 2
And also, tan      h
B B W gR gR

In the railways, width of the road means the distance between two rails and
represented by the gauge G (in meter). Thus the superelevation or cant is
expressed as:
Gv 2
h
gR

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Transition Curve
Equilibrium cant: If the superelevation or cant, in case of railways, is provided
according to the equation of superelevation, it is known as the equilibrium cant.
In this case the load distributed on the two rails will be equal and the springs of
the train will be equally compressed on the both side and it will be in the state
of balance.
Cant deficiency: According to the equation of superelevation, if the speed is more
than the design speed, the value of cant will be more where as the cant will be
less if the speed is less. This excess or shortage of cant over the equilibrium cant
is known as cant deficiency of the track.

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Transition Curve

Centrifugal Ratio:
The ratio of centrifugal force (P) and the weight (W) is
called the centrifugal ratio 2
P v
Thus, Centrifugal ratio = 
W gR

Generally, Maximum value of centrifugal ratio for road: ¼

for railways: ⅛
Thus, For road, P/W = ¼ = v2/gR => v = √(gR/4)
For railways, P/W = ⅛ = v2/gR => v = √(gR/8)
These equations give the maximum velocity for the vehicle to pass safely over a
curve with given radius R.

The above expressions can also be expressed as:

For road, R = 4v2/g
For railways R = 8v2/g 14
Vertical Curve
• A curve used to connect two different grade lines of
railways or highways .
• To insure safe and comfortable travel, the surveyor rounds
off the intersection by inserting a vertical parabolic curve.
The parabolic curve provides a gradual direction change
from one grade to the next.
• A vertical curve connecting a descending grade with an
ascending grade, or with one descending less sharply, is
called a sag, valley or invert curve.
• An ascending grade followed by a descending grade, or one
ascending less sharply, is joined by a summit or overt curve.

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Vertical Curve
• Used in vertical plane
• required at the intersection of different road/rail
gradients
• Used for gradual change in the gradients to avoid
sudden jerks
• The following requirements should be met:
1. constant change of gradient
2. uniform rate of increase of centrifugal force
3. adequate sighting distances.

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Vertical Curve
• Shape
• The radius of vertical curves is usually kept so large that
the ratio of length to radius is less than 1:10 (At this
condition there is no practical difference between a
circle, an ellipse or a parabola )
• But simple parabolic curve is preferred because:
1. It is flatter at the top and hence provides a longer sight
distance
2. Rate of change of gradient is uniform throughout the curve
and which provides best riding qualities
3. Simplicity in computation

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Vertical Curve
• General equation of parabola y =ax^2+ bx + c
• Differentiating, dy/dx = 2ax + b
At x = 0, dy/dx = b = g1, which gives the slope of the curve
at any point on the curve
• Differentiating again, d2y/dx2 = 2a (constant)(rate of
change of slope)
• Thus rate of change of gradient is constant which
produces smooth riding condition
• Gradients are expressed as percentage
+g1%:upgrade or rising gradient of g1 meters in 100 m
-g2%:falling or descending gradient of g2 meters in 100 m
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Vertical Curve
• Rate (r) of change of gradient
• The algebraic difference of the two gradients meeting at the apex divided by the length
of the curve (L) i.e.; if g1 and g2 the percentage gradient before and after the
intersection point then:
• r = (g2 – (g1))/L
• For Ist class railway work
• r = 0.3% per 100m for curve at summit
• r = 0.15% per 100m for curve at sag
• For 2nd class railway work, the rate is twice than above. Thus the total length of the
curve is expressed as
• L = total change of grade/permissible rate of change of grade
• If two grades of-1.2% and +0.9% meet , Length of vertical curve required for a rate of change of
grade of 0.1% per 30m chain will be
• r=(g2 – (g1))/L
• Or L =(g2 – (g1))/r
• =((0.9)-(-1.2))/0.1 *30
• =630m

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Vertical Curve
• Types:
• Summit curve
• Sag curve
• Summit curve is provided when:
• An upgrade is followed by a downgrade
• A steeper upgrade is followed by a milder upgrade
• A milder downgrade is followed by a steeper downgrade

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Vertical Curve
• Sag curve is provided when
• a downgrade is followed by an upgrade
• a steeper downgrade is followed by a milder downgrade
• a milder upgrade is followed by a steeper upgrade

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Vertical Curve
• Highest (Summit) or Lowest (Sag) Point on a Vertical Curve
We know, the general equation of parabola y=ax2+bx+c
When x = O, y = O; therefore c = O
Thus above equation becomes y = ax2+bx
Differentiating above equation we get dy/dx = 2ax + b
When x = O, dy/dx = g1% = g1/100
b= g1/100
Thus above equation becomes y = ax2 + (g1/1OO)x
Differentiating again we get d2y/dx2 = 2a
Also we know that d2y/dx2 is the rate of change of gradient (r) and equals to (g2-g1)%/L = (g2-g1)/1OOL
Thus 2a = (g2-g1)/1OOL
Hence

But for highest (summit) or lowest (Sag) point on a vertical curve, dy/dx = O
Therefore

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Vertical Curve
• Assumption on vertical curve:
1. A line drawn from point of intersection (I) parallel to the axis of
parabola bisects the long chord (joining T1 and T2); T1N = T2N
2. The vertical curve bisects the distance between P.I. (I) and the
mid point of long chord (N); IM = MN
3. The curve is so flat that the length of vertical curve (T 1MT2) is
taken equal to the length of the long chord (T1NT2) ;T1l = T1M = -
T1N
4. Offsets(y) from the tangent T1l are proportional to the square of
the distance(x) form T1 so that y is directly prop to x2 or
y1/y2=x12/x22.
(These offsets should be at right angles to the tangent, but as flat gradients
are usually involved it is sufficiently accurate to take them vertically)

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Vertical Curve
• Setting out

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Vertical Curve

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