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Simple Curves
Contents

Terminologies in Simple Curve

Formulas for Circular Curves
Minimum Radius of Curvature

Contents

Terminologies in Simple Curve Back to top

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

The smaller is the degree of curve, the flatter is the curve and vice versa. The sharpness of simple curve is also determined by
radius R. Large radius are flat whereas small radius are sharp.

Formulas for Circular Curves Back to top

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.
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,

I T
tan =
2 R

I
T = R tan
2

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

I R
cos =
2 R + E

R
R + E =
I
cos
2

I
E = R sec − R
2

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,

I R − m
cos =
2 R

I
R cos = R − m
2

I
m = R − R cos
2

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
 I
R sin = L/2
2

I
L = 2R sin
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,

Lc 2πR
=
∘
I 360

πRI
Lc =
∘
180

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

Lc 1 station
=
I D

1 station × I
Lc =
D

SI units: 1 station = 20 m
20I
Lc =
D

English system: 1 station = 100 ft

100I
Lc =
D

If given the stationing of PC and PT

L c = Stationing of P T − Stationing of P C

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,

1 station 2πR
=
∘
D 360
 SI units (1 station = 20 m):
20 2πR
=
∘
D 360

English system (1 station = 100 ft):

100 2πR
=
∘
D 360

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,

D half station
sin =
2 R

SI units (half station = 10 m):

D 10
sin =
2 R

English system (half station = 50 ft):

D 50
sin =
2 R

Minimum Radius of Curvature Back to top

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.
From the force polygon shown in the right
CF
tan(θ + ϕ) =
W

2
Wv

gR
tan(θ + ϕ) =
W

2
Wv
tan(θ + ϕ) =
W gR

2
v
tan(θ + ϕ) =
gR

The quantity v2/gR is called impact factor.

Impact factor

2
v
if =
gR

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

2
v
tan(θ + ϕ) =
gR

2
tan θ + tan ϕ v
=
1 − tan θ tan ϕ gR

Recall that tan θ = e and tan ϕ = f

2
e + f v
=
1 − ef gR

But ef ≡ 0 , thus

2
v
e + f =
gR

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

2
v
R =
g(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.

2 2
km 1000 m 1 hr
(v ) ( × )
hr km 3600 sec
R =
g(e + f)

2
1
v ( )
3.6
R =
g(e + f)

2
v
R =
2
(3.6 )g(e + f)
 2
v
R =
2
(3.6 )(9.80)(e + f)

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

2
v
R =
127(e + f )

Using the above formula, R must be in meter (m) and v in kilometer per hour (kph).

Back to top

Tags:
circular road, horizontal curve, road, circular curve, simple curve, radius of curvature, side friction,
super elevation

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