CIRCULAR CURVES

Introduction

In engineering survey, curves have to be set out on the ground for a variety of purposes.

Different techniques would be required in the setting out of curves.

Two main types of curve:

Horizontal curve
Vertical curve

Horizontal Curves



Horizontal curves are used for deflecting roads, channels, pipelines, railways etc.

There are 2 main types of horizontal curve: r =R

R R r =
O
Circular Curves (with constant radius)
Transition Curves (curves of varying radius) r =
O
All measurements in design & construction of horizontal curves are considered in the horizontal plane. Circular curve
Transition curve
 Types of Circular Curve

Simple circular curve

Consists of one arc of constant radius R
The most commonly used types of circular curve

R R

Types of Circular Curve

Compound circular curve

consists of two or more circular curves of different
radius without any intervening straight section
In Fig.11.0 shows a typical two-curve compound curve where a curve of radius R1 joins a curve of radius R2

Fig. 11.0 Types of Circular Curve

I

B
A Reverse circular curve
TC
T1 T2 Consists of two consecutive circular curves, which may or may not have same radius (Fig. 11.1)
Much more common than compound circular curve & can be used to avoid obstacles
Used to connect two straights which are very nearly parallel & that would otherwise require a very long simple circ
R1α
R2
O1
AB – common tangent line
α & β – deflection angles
β
 Fig. 11.1

O2
R2
T2

R2

I1
I2
TC
T1

R1
R1

O1

Terminology of Circular Curves

Q – any point on circular curve TPU S –

I 
mid-point of long chord TSU
P – mid-point of circular curve TPU
I – intersection point
T & U – tangent points
Q P
 - deflection angle
T S U R – radius of curvature

R O – centre of curvature
TU – long chord
 /2
PS – mid-ordinate
IT & IU – tangent length
O
Figure 11.2

Terminology of Circular Curve1s1 Radius & Degree Curves

of Figure 11.2, the following can be derived Circular curves can be referred to in one of two ways.
IT & IU = R tan /2 External distance, PI = R (sec (/2) – 1) Mid-ordinate, PS = R (1 - cos1.(Radius; example
/2)) Long chord, 750
TU =m2R sin /2
curve. Known as a radius curve.
2. Angle subtended at the centre of curve by 100 m arc; example a 2° curve. Known as a degree curve.
Relationship between the two types of curve (Fig. 11.3) is given by the following formula;
DR = (18000/)
D – in degreesR – in meters
 Radius & Degree Curves

A curve of radius 1500 m is equivalent to

DR = (18000/)
D° = 18000/1500 = 3.820°
VW
TU

R D° R

O
Figure 11.3

Important relationships in circular curves

With reference to Fig. 11.4, the tangential angle, α, at T to any point, X, on the curve TU is equal to half the angle subtended at the centre of curvature, O, by the chord from T to that poin

X
T U

R R
2α

Figure 11.4
O

Important relationships in circular curves

β
α X
A
T Y

2α 2β

Figure 11.6
O
Important relationships in circular curves

T to any point, X, on the curve to any forward point, Y, on the With

curvereference
is equal totohalf
Fig.the
11.6,
angle
the subtended
tangential angle
at thetocentre
any point
by the
onchord
the curve
between
is equal
theto
two
thepoints.
sum of the tangential angles from each
I

Tangent to curve at X
β
T X Y U

R R
2β
 Figure 11.5
O

Important relationships in circular curves

The relationships illustrated in Figure 11.4, 11.5 & 11.6 are used when setting out circular curves by the method of tangential angles.

Chainage

Chainage is simply a distance & usually in meters.

It is a measure of length from starting point of the

scheme to the particular point in question.

Used in road, railways and pipeline as a means of referencing any point on the centre line.

Figure 11.7 shows a circular curve, of length L & radius R running between 2 tangent points T & U.

Chainage I
U

L
to increase from N along centre line until curve tangent point T is reached. T

ontinue to increase in 2 directions, either along curve (from T towards U) or along the straight (from T along line TI produced).
R
R

Figure 11.7
N

Chainage of T = Chainage of I – IT
Chainage of U = Chainage of T + L
 Example: Chainage Calculation
Given: I 
Chainage of I = 1 + 550.555 m U
R = 500 m
L
 = 25°20’ T

R
R

Tangent length, IT = Rtan/2 = 500tan25°20’/2 =112.374m Curve length, L = (R) = (500 x 25°20’ x )/180° = 221.075m

Chainage of T = Chainage of I – IT = (1 +550.555) – 112.374

= 1 + 438.181 m

Chainage of U = Chainage of T + L = (1 + 438.181)+ 221.075

= 1 + 659.256 m

Setting Out Horizontal Curves22

The importance of the centre line

Provides an important reference line on site
Once it has been pegged out, other features such as channels, tops & bottoms of embankments & so on, can be fixed from it
It is vital that:
Centre line pegs are established to a high degree of accuracy
They are protected to avoid of being disturbed
If being disturbed, they can be relocated easily to the same accuracy to which they were initially set out

Setting out circular curves by traditional methods

Several methods are considered.

The tangential angles methods using either one or two theodolites & methods involving coordinates are the most a

I Tangent at K
1
K
T

R
21

The Different Setting Out Methods

can be set out, all of which fall into one of the following two categories.
line itself using the straights, intersection points & tangent points as reference using tapes, theodolites or total stations.
. These networks take the form of control points located on site some distance away from the centre line for use with theodolites, total stations or GPS receivers.

L
 O

Setting out circular curves by traditional methods

The Tangential Angles Methods

Assumption: arc TK = chord TK if the chord  R/20
In general,

90 𝐶ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
𝛼= 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑠
𝜋 𝑅𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠

The Tangential Angles Methods

Calculation procedure
Determine total length of curve
Select a suitable chord length (10 m, 20 m)
This will leave a sub-chord at the end & necessary to have an initial sub-chord in order to maintain equal chord lengths
Series of tangential angles is obtained from the formula , 1, (1+2),(1+2+3) & so on corresponding to chords length

The Tangential Angles Methods

Setting out circular curves by coordinate methods

Methods are being used nowadays.

In practice, 2 = 3 = 4 & so on, since all chords except first & last will be equal Local coordinates of points on the curve are calculated & these points are then fixed by either
Three tangential angles need to be calculated 1. Intersection from two of control points in main survey network at the proposed scheme.
All cumulative angles are measured from tangent point with reference to tangent2.line IT & distance from one of control points or tangent points.
Bearing
Results are tabulated before setting out curve on site

Reference
PQ P Q
 A & B fixed by intersection from survey stns P &A,QB & C fixed by brg. & dist. from survey stns P & Q

Advantages of Using Coordinates

If printout is available, work can be set out by anyone who is capable of using theodolite.

When setting out from nearby traverse stations, construction work can proceed unhindered since there is no need to set theodolite at tangent points.

Any disturbed pegs can quickly be relocated from traverse stations.

Advantages of Using Coordinates

It will be necessary to relocate centre line several times as various stages of construction are reached.

Each point on curve is fixed independently of any other point on the curve. This removes the chance of errors accumulating from one point to other points.

Key sections of curve can be set out in isolation.

Disadvantages of Using Coordinates Examples

Setting out by Tangential Angles Method

It is required to connect 2 straights whose deflection angle is 13°16’00” by a circular curve of radius 600
tting out. Large calculations errors will be noticed when curve does not take
m.the required shape but smallm,errors couldthe
pass unnoticed.
Given I stn. of 2 + 745.720 compute curve data and the station of the U. Compute the deflection angles at 2

olved. Usually distances are in horizontal plane & chaining become difficult to achieve over undulating ground.

I
 = 13°16’00”

T U
 O

Solution

Tangent length,
IT = R tan /2
= 600 tan 13°16’00”/2 = 69.776 m
Length of circular curve,
L = R
= (600 x 13°16’00” x )/180°
= 138.928 m
Chainage of T = Chainage of I – IT
= 2+745.720 – 69.776 = 2+675.944

Solution

To round this figure to 2+700.000, an initial sub-chord is required.

Length of initial sub-chord = 2+700.000 – (2+675.944)

= 24.056 m

Chainage of U = Chainage of T + L
= (2+675.944) + 138.928 = 2+814.872

Solution Solution

Tangential angles for the 3 chords are obtained from tangential angles formula.
Final sub-chord is also required since 25 m chords can only be used up to chainage 2 + 800.000 m.
= 90 × 24.056 = 01°08′55"
𝜋600
Length of final sub-chord = (2+814.872)–(2+800.000)
= 90 × 25.000 = 01°11′37"
= 14.872 m
3 chords are necessary : 𝜋600
Initial sub-chord = 24.056 m General chord = 25.000 m Final sub-chord = 14.872 m = 90 × 14.872 = 00°42′37"
𝜋600

Applying these to the whole curve, the tabulated results are shown in Table 11.0.
 Table 11.0 Table 11.0
Chainage Chord Individual Cumulative
(m) Lengths Tangential Tangential
(m) Angles Angles
2 + 675.944 0 00°00’00” 00°00’00”

Chainage Chord Individual Cumulative

(m) Lengths Tangential Tangential
(m) Angles Angles
2 + 675.944 0 00°00’00” 00°00’00”
2 + 700.000 24.056 01°08’55” 01°08’55”

Table 11.0 Table 11.0

Chainage Chord Individual Cumulative Chainage Chord Individual Cumulative

(m) Lengths Tangential Tangential (m) Lengths Tangential Tangential
(m) Angles Angles (m) Angles Angles
2 + 675.944 0 00°00’00” 00°00’00” 2 + 675.944 0 00°00’00” 00°00’00”
2 + 700.000 24.056 01°08’55” 01°08’55” 2 + 700.000 24.056 01°08’55” 01°08’55”
2 + 725.000 25.000 01°11’37” 02°20’32” 2 + 725.000 25.000 01°11’37” 02°20’32”
2 + 750.000 25.000 01°11’37” 03°32’09”
 Table 11.0 Table 11.0
Chainage Chord Individual Cumulative
(m) Lengths Tangential Tangential
(m) Angles Angles
2 + 675.944 0 00°00’00” 00°00’00”
2 + 700.000 24.056 01°08’55” 01°08’55”
2 + 725.000 25.000 01°11’37” 02°20’32”
2 + 750.000 25.000 01°11’37” 03°32’09”
2 + 775.000 25.000 01°11’37” 04°43’46”

Chainage Chord Individual Cumulative

(m) Lengths Tangential Tangential
(m) Angles Angles
2 + 675.944 0 00°00’00” 00°00’00”
2 + 700.000 24.056 01°08’55” 01°08’55”
2 + 725.000 25.000 01°11’37” 02°20’32”
2 + 750.000 25.000 01°11’37” 03°32’09”
2 + 775.000 25.000 01°11’37” 04°43’46”
2 + 800.000 25.000 01°11’37” 05°55’23”

Table 11.0 Table 11.0

Chainage Chord Individual As a check, final cumulative tangential

Cumulative Chainageangle should
Chordequal /2 &Individual
sum of the chords should equal the total length of c
Cumulative
(m) Lengths Tangential Tangential (m) Lengths Tangential Tangential
(m) Angles Angles (m) Angles Angles
2 + 675.944 0 00°00’00” 00°00’00” 2 + 675.944 0 00°00’00” 00°00’00”
2 + 700.000 24.056 01°08’55” 01°08’55” 2 + 700.000 24.056 01°08’55” 01°08’55”
2 + 725.000 25.000 01°11’37” 02°20’32” 2 + 725.000 25.000 01°11’37” 02°20’32”
2 + 750.000 25.000 01°11’37” 03°32’09” 2 + 750.000 25.000 01°11’37” 03°32’09”
2 + 775.000 25.000 01°11’37” 04°43’46” 2 + 775.000 25.000 01°11’37” 04°43’46”
2 + 800.000 25.000 01°11’37” 05°55’23” 2 + 800.000 25.000 01°11’37” 05°55’23”
2 + 814.872 14.872 00°42’37” 06°38’00” 2 + 814.872 14.872 00°42’37” 06°38’00”
 138.928
 Exercise

You are required to design a curve by connecting

2 straights whose  = 20°18’00” by a circular curve of radius 500 m. Given I stn. of 1 + 878.324 m, compute the curve data and the station of the U. Compute the deflection an

I
 = 20°18’00”
Chainage I = 1 + 878.324 m
T
U

Solution

Solution Solution
 Solution Table 11.1

Chainag Chord
Lengths
Individual
Tangential
Cumulative
Tangential
e (m) (m) Angles Angles

Solution