PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY – URDANETA CAMPUS

Module in CE 211-ENGINEERING SURVEYS Module No. 16

TOPIC OUTLINE PT = Point of tangency. It is

the end of curve.
PI = Point of intersection of
A. Simple Curves the tangents. Also called
B. Compound Curves vertex
T = Length of tangent
from PC to PI and
LEARNING OBJECTIVES from PI to PT. It is known as
subtangent.
R = Radius of simple curve, or
1. To be able to learn, simply radius.
compute and design roads L = Length of chord
using simple and compound from PC to PT. Point Q as shown
curve. below is the midpoint of L.
Lc = Length of curve
2. To be able to learn the from PC to PT. Point M in the
terminologies being used the figure is the midpoint
in simple and compound of Lc.
curve. E = External distance, the
nearest distance from PI to the
curve.
m = Middle ordinate, the
OVERVIEW distance from midpoint of curve
to midpoint of chord.
I = Deflection angle (also
Curves are regular bends called angle of
provided in the lines of intersection and central
communication like roads, angle). It is the angle of
railways etc. and also in intersection of the tangents.
canals to bring about the The angle subtended
gradual change of direction. by PC and PT at O is also equal
They are also used in the to I, where O is the center of
vertical plane at all changes the circular curve from the
of grade to avoid the abrupt above figure.
change of grade at the apex. x = offset distance from
tangent to the curve.
A compound curve consists of Note: x is perpendicular to T.
two (or more) circular θ = offset angle subtended
curves between two main at PC between PI and any point
tangents joined at point of in the curve
compound curve (PCC). Curve D = Degree of curve. It is the
at PC is designated as 1 central angle subtended by a
(R1, L1, T1, etc) and curve length of curve equal to one
at PT is designated as 2 station. In English system, one
(R2, L2, T2, etc). station is equal to 100 ft and
in SI, one station is equal to
TERMINOLOGIES IN SIMPLE 20 m.
Sub chord = chord distance
CURVE between two adjacent full
stations.
PC = Point of curvature. It is
the beginning of curve.
1
PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY – URDANETA CAMPUS
Module in CE 211-ENGINEERING SURVEYS Module No. 15

Sharpness of circular curve Middle ordinate, m

The smaller is the degree of Middle ordinate is the distance
curve, the flatter is the curve from the midpoint of the curve
and vice versa. The sharpness to the midpoint of the chord.
of simple curve is also From right triangle O-Q-PT,
determined by radius R. Large 𝐼 𝑅−𝑚
cos =
radius are flat whereas small 2 𝑅

radius is sharp. Rcos𝐼 = R−m

2

m = R − Rcos𝑰
𝟐
SIMPLE CURVE
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,

𝐼 𝐿/2
sin 2 = 𝑅
Rsin 𝐼 =L/2
2

L = 2Rsin𝑰
𝟐

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,
Length of tangent, T 𝐿𝑐 2𝜋𝑅
Length of tangent (also =
𝐼 360°
referred to as subtangent) is
the distance from PC to PI. It Lc =
𝝅𝑹𝑰
is the same distance 𝟏𝟖𝟎°
from PI to PT. From the right
An alternate formula for the
triangle PI-PT-O, tan 𝐼 = 𝑇 length of curve is by ratio and
2 𝑅
proportion with its degree of
T = Rtan𝑰 curve.
𝟐
𝐿𝑐 1 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
External distance, E =
𝐼 𝐷
External distance is the Lc =
1 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑥 𝐼
distance from PI to the 𝐷
midpoint of the curve. From the
same right triangle PI-PT-O, SI units: 1 station = 20 m
cos 𝐼 = 𝑅 𝟐𝟎𝑰
2 𝑅+𝐸 Lc = 𝑫

R+E= 𝑅
𝐶𝑂𝑆 𝐼
2

E = Rsec 𝑰 − R
𝟐
2
PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY – URDANETA CAMPUS
Module in CE 211-ENGINEERING SURVEYS Module No. 16

English system: 1 station = 100 English system (1 station =

ft 100 ft):

𝟏𝟎𝟎𝑰 100 2𝜋𝑅

Lc = =
𝑫 𝐷 360°

If given the stationing 𝐷=

1145.916(5)
of PC and PT 𝑅
Lc=Stationing of PT− Stationing 𝟓𝟕𝟐𝟗.𝟓𝟖
of PC 𝑫= 𝑹

Degree of curve, D
The degree of curve is the Chord Basis
central angle subtended by an Chord definition is used in
arc (arc basis) or chord (chord railway design. The degree of
basis) of one station. It will curve is the central angle
define the sharpness of the subtended by one station length
curve. In English system, 1 of chord. From the dotted right
station is equal to 100 ft. In triangle below,
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,
𝐷 ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑓 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑠𝑖𝑛 =
2 𝑅

SI units (half station = 10m):

𝑫 𝟏𝟎
𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟐
= 𝑹

English system (half station =

50 ft):

𝑫 𝟓𝟎
𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝟐
= 𝑹

1 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 2𝜋𝑅
=
𝐷 360°

SI units (1 station = 20 m):

20 2𝜋𝑅
=
𝐷 360°

𝟏𝟏𝟒𝟓.𝟗𝟏𝟔
𝑫= 𝑹

3
PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY – URDANETA CAMPUS
Module in CE 211-ENGINEERING SURVEYS Module No. 15

COMPOUND CURVE AND LEARNING ACTIVITY

TERMINOLOGIES

Problem 1. The tangent distance

of a 3° simple curve is only ½
of its radius.
a) Compute the angle of
intersection of the curve
b) Compute the length of
curve.
c) Compute the area of the
fillet of the curve.

Problem 2. A simple curve

connects two tangents AB and BC
with bearings N 85°30’ E and S
68°30’ E respectively. If the
stationing of the vertex is
4+360.2 and the stationing of
PC = point of curvature PC is at 4+288.4
PT = point of tangency a) Determine the radius
PI = point of intersection b) Determine the external
PCC = point of compound curve distance
T1 = length of tangent of the c) Determine the middle
first curve ordinate
T2 = length of tangent of the d) Determine the chord
second curve distance
V1 = vertex of the first curve e) Determine the length of
V2 = vertex of the second curve curve
I1 = central angle of the first
curve Problem 3. A compound curve has
I2 = central angle of the a common tangent 84.5m long
second curve which makes angles of 16° and
I = angle of intersection 20° with the tangents of the
= I1 + I2 first curve and the second
Lc1 = length of first curve curves respectively. The length
Lc2 = length of second curve of the tangent of the first
L1 = length of first chord curve is 38.6m. What is the
L2 = length of second chord radius of the second curve?
L = length of long chord
from PC to PT Problem 4. A compound curve has
T1 + T2 = length of common a common tangent of 84.5m long
tangent measured from V1 to V2 which makes an angle of 16° and
θ = 180° - I 20° with the tangents of the
x and y can be found from first curve and the second
triangle V1-V2-PI. curve respectively. The length
L can be found from of the tangent of the second
triangle PC-PCC-PT curve is 42.0m.
a) What is the radius of the
first curve
b) Find the radius of the
second curve
4
PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY – URDANETA CAMPUS
Module in CE 211-ENGINEERING SURVEYS Module No. 16

c) Find the length of curve

from PC to PT.

SUMMARY

The simple curve is an arc of a

circle. It is the most used.
The radius of the circle
determines the “sharpness” or
“flatness” of the curve. The
larger the radius, the
“flatter” the curve.

REFERENCES

https://mathalino.com/reviewer/
surveying-and-transportation-
engineering/problem-03-simple-
curve

Prepared by:

ENGR. ELMAR T. ANTOLIN

Faculty, Civil Engineering
Department
College of Engineering and
Architecture