ENGINEERING SURVEYING II

Topic 2 – Route Surveying

Circular Curve
 Lesson Outcome
• At the end of this lesson, student should be able
to:

• Describe the term and basic geometry of

curves
• Design, calculate and setting out the circular
curves
Lesson Structure
• During this lesson, students will go through :

1. Lecture
- 80 minutes for 2-hour lesson

2. Break session
- 5 to 10 minutes

3. Simple Assessment
- Discussion  10 to 15 minutes

4. Summary
 Lecture content

Introduction to route surveying

Terms and basic geometry of curves

Circular curve design

Circular curve calculation

Setting out of a circular curve

Introduction to Route Surveying
 Railroad routes are chosen only after a complete and
detailed study of all possible locations has been
completed.

 The proposed center line (cl) is laid out in a series of

straight lines (tangents) beginning and continuing to the
route terminal point. Each time the route changes
direction, the deflection angle between the back tangent
and forward tangent is measured and recorded.

 Once the cl location alignment has been confirmed, the

tangents are joined by circular curves that allow for
smooth vehicle operation at the speeds for which the
highway was designed.
Types of Curves
• There are two (2) types of curve :

a) Horizontal Curves

- Circular Curve
- Transition Curve

b) Vertical Curves
Horizontal Curves
• The purpose of the curves is to deflect a vehicle travelling
along one of the straight safely and comfortably through
the angle, θ to enable to continue its journey along the
other straight line.

• θ is known as deflection angle.

• Its name is horizontal curve because all measurement in

their design and construction is considered on the
horizontal plane.
Types of Horizontal Curves
Types of Circular Curves
Types of Circular Curves
 GEOMETRY OF CIRCULAR CURVE
I  intersection point of the two straight
TI & IU.

TPU  circular curve which runs around

the arc from T to U.

T & U  tangent point to the circular

curve.

TI & UI  tangent lengths of the circular

curve.
Tangential angle ∡ITQ = the angle from
P mid point of the circular curve TPU
the tangent length at T to any point on the
TSU  Long chord
circular curve
S  mid point of the long chord
The mid-ordinate of the circular curve = PS

Intersection angle = (180° - θ) = ∡ TIU θ  deflection angle = external angle at I

R  Radius of the curvature = ∡CIU
O  Centre of the curvature
Q  any point on the circular curve
Formula Derived From Circular Curve Geometry

oLong chord, TSU Tangent length

Tan θ / 2 = IT / R
In ΔTSO,  IT = R tan θ/2
sin θ/2 = TS / R,
Chainage
Therefore, CHT = CHI – Tangent length
TS = R sin θ/2 CHU = CHT + Arc TU

And, Arc TU
TSU = 2 R sin θ/2 TU = R θ (in rad)
oMajor offset, PS
PS is the greatest offset from the long chord to the curve
PS = R - OS

In ΔTSO,
Cos θ/2 = OS / R
OS = R cos θ/2

Therefore,
PS = R – R cos θ/2
= R (1 – cos θ/2)
o External distance,

o The length of PI is the shortest distance from

the intersection point to the curve;

o PI = IO – R

In ΔITO,
kos θ/2 = R / IO
IO = R / kos θ/2
∴ IO = R sec θ/2

Therefore;
PI = R sec θ/2 – R
= R (sec θ/2 - 1)
Exercise 1
• Two straight AI and IB deviate to the left by 80° 36’. They
are to be joined by a circular curve such that the shortest
distance between the curve and intersection points is
25.3m. Calculate :
a) The radius of the curve
b) The lengths of the long chord and major offset.
Exercise 2
• Two straight XY and YZ deviate to the right by 47⁰ 09’
20”. They are to be joined by a circular curve of 50 m
radius. Calculate :

a) The length of the long chord

b) The major offset
c) Shortest distance from the curve to the intersection
point
d) The tangent lengths
e) The arc
THROUGH CHAINAGE

• Often referred as chainage. Simply as distance and usually in

meters.

• Measure of the length from the starting point of the scheme to the
particular point.

• Tangent point T is known as the entry tangent point because it is

the point which the curve is entered in the direction of increasing
chainage.

• Tangent point U is known as exit tangent point because it is

point at which the curve is exited in the direction of increasing
chainage.
SETTING OUT CURVE
• Purpose of curve calculation : Enable the curve to be set
out in predetermined position on the ground.

• Centre line of the curve is positioned by a series of pegs,

set at intervals chosen by surveyor.

• Numerous methods are available but the following three

methods are the most commonly used on site because of
simplicity, accuracy and speed.
 Methods of Setting Out Calculation
• 3 commonly used methods :

• Finding the centre

• This method is used where the radius of curvature is less than 30m.

• Offset from the tangent

• Suitable when deviation angle is small (less than 50°), lengths of curve
short and the centre is inaccessible.

• Offset from the long chord

• Suitable for curves up to 100 m radius.
Finding the centre
• Value of R is given, deviation angle α is
measured from the plan and tangent
length IT1 and IT2, [R tan (α/2)] calculated.
T1 R
O

• Procedure for setting the curve is then as

follows: α R

I T2
1.From I, measure distances IT1 and IT2. road
2.Mark positions of T1 and T2.
3.Mark the center O at the point where the
tapes intersect when reading R.
4.Any point on the curve is established by
hooking the tape over the peg O and
swinging the radius.
Offset from the tangent
• Curve can be set out by measuring
offsets from the tangent.
B
• Length AT1 = y ; length AO = (R-y) T1 T2

• ΔOAB, R
A
• OA = √(OB² - AB²) R

(R-y) = √(R² - x²)

∴ y = R - √(R² - x²) O

Thus the offset y can be calculated

for any distance x along the tangent.
Exercise : Offset from the tangent
• Given that the deviation angle θ=45° and the radius =
60m, calculate the offsets from the tangent at 5 m
intervals.

B
T1 T2

R
A R

O
Procedure : Offsets from the tangent
• The offsets at 5m, 10m, 15 m and so on are from the tangent point T1
to the interval distance on tangent line.

• The procedure for setting out the curve is as follows:

1. Provide a line from T1 to intersection point.

2. At 5m intervals along the tangent line, drive in pegs.
3. Set out the offsets at right angle from the tangent line to the
curve at required intervals according to the tabulated data.
Offsets from the long chord
• The curve is established by measuring v
A
offset y at right angles to the long chord
T1T2 at selected distances from tangent y
points. yn
• VC is the major offset y at the mid-point C T1 c T2
x
of the long chord and OC is constant, k.

• Major offset y = (R-k) k k

R
• In ΔOT1C, k = √(R2-x2)
∴ y = R - √(R2-x2)
xn B
O
• Any offset y can be calculated for any
distance along the long chord.

• Any other offset yn = AB-k

• In ΔABO, AB = √(R2-xn2)
∴ yn = √(R2-xn2) -k
Example :Offsets from the long chord
• A roadway has a radius of curvature of 40m. The length of
the long chord is 60m. Calculate the offsets from the
chord at 10m intervals.
v
A

y
yn
T1 c T2
x

k k
R

xn B
O
Example :Offsets from the long chord
• Answer:
1. Calculate k,
k = √(R2-x2)
= √(402-302)
= 26.458m

2. Calculate major offset,

y = R - √(R2-x2)
y = 40 - 26.458
y = 13.542m

3. Calculate offset for every 10m intervals started from the major offset to T1.

x Offset y  yn = √(R2-xn2) -k

x10 √(402-102)-26.458 = 12.272m

x20 √(402-202)-26.458 =8.183m
x30 √(402-302)-26.458 = 0.00 m
Example :Offsets from the long chord
• The offsets at 10m, 20m and 30m from C to T 2 are the same lengths
as the offsets at 10m,20m and 30m from T 1 to C.

• The procedure for setting out the curve is as follows:

1. Locate T1 and T2 and measure the distance between them. It

should equal 60m.
2. At 10m intervals along the chord, drive in pegs.
3. Set out the offsets at right angles to the long chord using a
prism and drive in pegs to mark the curve.
Exercise :Offsets from the long chord
• A curved roadway of radius 100m is to be set out using
the method of offsets from the long chord. Given that the
length of the long chord is 60m, calculate the lengths of
the offsets at 10m intervals along the long chord.
Setting out large radius curve
• Method:
• Setting out by tangential angles.

• Traditional method involving the use of tape and theodolite.

• Setting out by coordinates

• Setting out using total station instruments has therefore

become standard practice on construction sites, since these
instrument enable horizontal distances to be set out without
difficulty.
Setting out by tangential angles
• Involved the used of theodolite
and tape.
• Angle α1, α2, α3, and α4 are the
angles by which curve deflects to
the right or left.
• The value of any tangential angle
(α1, α2, α3, and α4) can similarly be
found and the formula can be
written in general terms:
• 1718.9 x (c/R) , if the c>R/20
@
• sin α= c / 2R

• Any tangential angle to a point on

a curve is simply the summation of
the tangential angles to that
point.thus, the tangential angle to
point;
• C = α1 + α2
• D = α1 + α2 + α3
• Finally, α1 + α2 + α3 + α4 = θ/2
1718.9 x (c/R) , if the c>R/20

This method can only be used if the

the distance of sub-chord is longer
than R/20.

Assuming that,
T1B = chord T1B
T1B = R . 2α (where 2α is in radian)

α = T1B / 2R

Convert from radian to degree

α = (T1B / 2R) . (180°/π)
α = (T1B / R) . (90°/π) (degree)
α = (T1B / R) . (90°/π) . 60  (minute)
α = (T1B / R) . 1718.9

T1B is subchord, c
∴ α = 1718.9 x (c / R)
Exercise : Tangential angle method
 Two straight AI and IB have bearing of 80⁰ and 110⁰ respectively.
They are to be joined by a circular curve of 300m radius. The
chainage of intersection point is 872.485m. Calculate the data for
setting out the curve by 20m standard chords.
Setting out by coordinates
• Setting out by EDM methods requires that I
the coordinates at every proposed point to
be determined, usually by calculation. T2
T1

• Several methods are available to compute

those coordinates of which the easiest to B
understand is the following: A S

R
i. Calculate the coordinates of points A,
T1, I, T2 and B as a traverse.
ii. Calculate T1, O and T2 as traverse.
iii. Calculate the coordinates of the
O
remaining curve chainage points.
iv. Calculate the bearings and distances
that will require setting out the
various point from station S.
Advantages of setting out by coordinates

• The design coordinates are obtained from the software

packages.
• These coordinates are error free.
• The surveyor requires practically no knowledge of curve
calculations.
• Therefore, the points can be set out by inexperiences
assistants financial saving.
• The setting out station can be distant from centre line.
• The instrument can be set up clear of the heavy road. 
safety and convenience.
Disadvantages of setting out by
coordinates
• No check on the setting out design coordinates and errors
may go unnoticed until later.

• The point must therefore be set out from a second survey

point by computing a second set of data (bearing and
distance) and setting them out as described.
 CONCLUSION
• The purpose of horizontal curve is to ensure that vehicles travel
safely from one straight section of road to another.
• 3 basic types of circular curve : simple curve, compound curve
and reverse curve.
• Important to understand the terminology used in circular curve
• Chainage is used to reference points on the centre line of the
project.
• There are several methods of setting out circular curve. The
suitable method to be chosen is based on the need and
requirement of the project.
• Setting out by coordinate is the popular method nowadays
since it requires less financial and labour
THANK YOU