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Simple Curves

Terminologies in Simple Curve

PC = Point of curvature. It is the beginning of curve.

PT = Point of tangency. It is the end of curve.

PI = Point of intersection of the tangents. Also called vertex

T = Length of tangent from PC to PI and from PI to PT. It is known as subtangent.

R = Radius of simple curve, or simply radius.

L = Length of chord from PC to PT. Point Q as shown below is the midpoint of L.

Lc = Length of curve from PC to PT. Point M in the the figure is the midpoint of Lc.

E = External distance, the nearest distance from PI to the curve.

m = Middle ordinate, the distance from midpoint of curve to midpoint of chord.

I = Deflection angle (also called angle of intersection and central angle). It is the angle of intersection
of the tangents. The angle subtended by PC and PT at O is also equal to I, where O is the center of the
circular curve from the above figure.

x = offset distance from tangent to the curve. Note: x is perpendicular to T.

θ = offset angle subtended at PC between PI and any point in the curve

D = Degree of curve. It is the central angle subtended by a length of curve equal to one station. In
English system, one station is equal to 100 ft and in SI, one station is equal to 20 m.

Sub chord = chord distance between two adjacent full stations.

Sharpness of circular curve

Formulas for Circular Curves

The formulas we are about to present need not be memorized. All we need is geometry plus names of
all elements in simple curve. Note that we are only dealing with circular arc, it is in our great advantage
if we deal it at geometry level rather than memorize these formulas.

001-circular-simple-curve.gif

Length of tangent, T

Length of tangent (also referred to as subtangent) is the distance from PC to PI. It is the same distance
from PI to PT. From the right triangle PI-PT-O,

tanI2=TR

T=RtanI2

External distance, E

External distance is the distance from PI to the midpoint of the curve. From the same right triangle PI-
PT-O,

cosI2=RR+E

R+E=RcosI2

E=RsecI2−R
Middle ordinate, m

Middle ordinate is the distance from the midpoint of the curve to the midpoint of the chord. From right
triangle O-Q-PT,

cosI2=R−mR

RcosI2=R−m

m=R−RcosI2

Length of long chord, L

Length of long chord or simply length of chord is the distance from PC to PT. Again, from right triangle O-
Q-PT,

sinI2=L/2R

RsinI2=L/2

L=2RsinI2

Length of curve, Lc

Length of curve from PC to PT is the road distance between ends of the simple curve. By ratio and
proportion,

LcI=2πR360∘

Lc=πRI180∘
An alternate formula for the length of curve is by ratio and proportion with its degree of curve.

LcI=1stationD

Lc=1station×ID

SI units: 1 station = 20 m

Lc=20ID

English system: 1 station = 100 ft

Lc=100ID

If given the stationing of PC and PT

Lc=Stationing of PT− Stationing of PC

Degree of curve, D

The degree of curve is the central angle subtended by an arc (arc basis) or chord (chord basis) of one
station. It will define the sharpness of the curve. In English system, 1 station is equal to 100 ft. In SI, 1
station is equal to 20 m. It is important to note that 100 ft is equal to 30.48 m not 20 m.

Arc Basis
In arc definition, the degree of curve is the central angle angle subtended by one station of circular arc.
This definition is used in highways. Using ratio and proportion,

001-degree-of-curve-arc-basis.gif

1stationD=2πR360∘

SI units (1 station = 20 m):

20D=2πR360∘

English system (1 station = 100 ft):

100D=2πR360∘

Chord Basis

Chord definition is used in railway design. The degree of curve is the central angle subtended by one
station length of chord. From the dotted right triangle below,

001-degree-of-curve-chord-basis.gif

sinD2=halfstationR

SI units (half station = 10 m):

sinD2=10R

English system (half station = 50 ft):

Minimum Radius of Curvature

Vehicle traveling on a horizontal curve may either skid or overturn off the road due to centrifugal force.
Side friction f and superelevation e are the factors that will stabilize this force. The superelevation e =
tan θ and the friction factor f = tan ϕ. The minimum radius of curve so that the vehicle can round the
curve without skidding is determined as follows.

001-minimum-radius-of-curvature.gif

From the force polygon shown in the right

001-force-polygon.giftan(θ+ϕ)=CFW

tan(θ+ϕ)=Wv2gRW

tan(θ+ϕ)=Wv2WgR

tan(θ+ϕ)=v2gR

The quantity v2/gR is called impact factor.

Impact factor

if=v2gR

Back to the equation tan (θ + ϕ) = v2/gR

tan(θ+ϕ)=v2gR
tanθ+tanϕ1−tanθtanϕ=v2gR

Recall that tanθ=e and tanϕ=f

e+f1−ef=v2gR

But ef≡0, thus

e+f=v2gR

Radius of curvature with R in meter and v in meter per second

R=v2g(e+f)

For the above formula, v must be in meter per second (m/s) and R in meter (m). For v in kilometer per
hour (kph) and R in meter, the following convenient formula is being used.

R=(vkmhr)2(1000mkm×1 hr3600 sec)2g(e+f)

R=v2(13.6)2g(e+f)

R=v2(3.62)g(e+f)

R=v2(3.62)(9.80)(e+f)

Radius of curvature with R in meter and v in kilometer per hour

R=v2127(e+f)

Using the above formula, R must be in meter (m) and v in kilometer per hour (kph).
Tags: circular roadhorizontal curveroadcircular curvesimple curveradius of curvatureside frictionsuper
elevation

Problem 01 - Simple Curve

Problem 02 - Simple Curve

Problem 03 - Simple Curve

‹ Surveying and Transportation EngineeringupProblem 01 - Simple Curve ›

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Surveying and Transportation Engineering

Simple Curves

Problem 01 - Simple Curve

Problem 02 - Simple Curve

Problem 03 - Simple Curve

Compound and Reversed Curves

Spiral Curve

Parabolic Curve

Inner Circle Reading of the Double Vernier of a Transit

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