CIRCULAR CURVES

HORIZONTAL CURVE
Types of curves
 In the design of roads and railways,
straight sections of road or track are
connected by curves of constant or
varying radius.
 Purpose of curve is to deflect a vehicle
travelling along one of the straights
safely and comfortable through the
angle θ to enable it to continue along the other
straight.
 For this reason θ is known as the deflection angle
Types of curves
 The two main types of horizontal curves
are:
 Circular curves –which are curves of
constant radius
 Transition Curve – which are curves of
varying radius.
 Usually combination of straights, circular
curves and transition curves is used the
final design.
 Together, they form what is known as
the horizontal alignment.
Horizontal Curve: Circular
curve
Horizontal Curve:
Transition Curve
Types of Circular Curves
 There are three basic types of circular
curves: simple curve , compound curve
and a reverse curve.
 These curves can also be referred to as
radius curves or degree curves.
Simple circular Curve
 A simple circular curve consist of one arc
of constant radius R.
 This is the most commonly used type.
Simple Circular Curve
Compound Curve
 These consist of two or more
consecutive simple circular curves of
different radii without intervening
straight section.
 Can be used to avoid obstacles.
Compound
Curve
Reverse curve

 These curves consist of two consecutive

curves of the same or different radii
without any intervening straight section
and with their centres of curvature
falling on opposite sides of their common
tangent point.
 Much more common than compound
curves and can be used to avoid
obstacles.
 They can used to connect straights
which are nearly parallel.
Reverse Curve
Radius or Degree of curve
 A curve can defined in terms of its radius, for
example, a 750m curve. This known as a
radius curve.
 A curve can be defined in terms of the angle
subtended at its centre by a 100m arc, for
example a 20 curve. This is known as the
degree of the curve.
 The relationship between radius curves and
degree curve is given by the formula
 DR =18000/π
In which D is in degrees and R in metres
Degree Curve
Radius or Degree of curve
 A curve of radius 1200 m is equivalent to
 D = 18000/1200π =15/π = 4.7660
That is, a 1200 m radius curve = 4.766 0 degree curve.
Terminology used in Curves
 I is the intersection point of the two straights TI and IU
 TPU is a circular curve which runs around the arc from T to
U
 The length of the circular around the arc TPU = Lc
 T and U are the tangent points to the circular curve
 TI and UI are the tangent lengths of the circular curve
 P is the mid point of the circular curve
 Long chord = TSU
 S is the mid point of the long chord
 Deflection angle = θ = external angle at I angle CIU
 Intersection angle = (1800-θ) = internal angle at I = TIU
 Radius of curvature of the circular curve =R
Terminology used in Curves
 Centre of curvature of the circular curve = O
 Q in any point on the circular curve
 Tangent angle = for example angle ITQ = the
angle from the tangent length at T (or U) to any
point on the circular curve.
 The mid ordinate of the circular curve = PS
 Radius angle = angle TOU = deflection angle CIU
=θ
 External distance = PI
Circular Curve
Geometry
Formulae used in circular
curves
 Tangent lengths IT and IU in triangles
ITO/ IUO
R tan(θ/2) = IU/IO = UI/R
Hence IU = IT = R tan(θ/2
 External distance PI in triangle IUO
Cos(θ/2) = R/IO
IO = R/cos (θ/2) = R sec(θ/2)
But PI = OI – OP = OI – R
Hence PI = R sec (θ/2)-R = R[ sec (θ/2)- 1]
Formulae used in circular
curves
 Long chord, TU: in triangle USO
sin (θ/2) = US/UO = US/R
or US = R sin (θ/2)
But TU = US + TS and US = TS
Hence TU = 2R sin(θ/2)
 The length of the circular curve Lc, can obtained
from one of two formulae depending on whether
the curve is a radius curve or a degree curve.
Formulae used in circular
curves
 For a curve of radius R
Lc = Rθ metres
where R is in metres and θ in radians
 For a D0 degree curve
Lc = 100(θ/D) metres
Where θ and D are in the same units, either degrees or
radians
Important Relationship in
Curves
 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
point.
Important Relationship in
Curves
 The tangential angle
β, at any point X, on
the curve to any
forward point, Y, on
the curve is equal to
half the angle
subtended at the
centre by the chord
from T to that point.
Important Relationship in
Curves
 The tangential angle
to any point on the
curve is equal to the
sum of the tangential
angles from each
chord up to that point.
Through Chainage
 Through chainage often referred to as
chainage, is the distance and usually
given in metres.
 A measure of length form the starting
point of a scheme to the particular point
in question used in road, railway
pipeline, tunnel and canal construction
as means of referencing.
 The figure below shows a circular curve,
of length Lc and radius R between
tangent points T and U, which occur in
Through Chainage
 As shown in the figure below chainage increase
along the centre line and is measured from the
point Z at which the new construction begins.
 Z is known as the position of zero chainage.
 Chainage continue to increase from Z along the
centre until a curve tangent point such as T is
reached.
 At T, chainage can continue to increase in two
directions, either along the curve or along the
straight.
 Hence, intersection point I and tangent points T and
U can all have chainage values.
Chainage along a Circular
curve
Through Chainage
 Tangent point T is known as the entry
tangent point and tangent point U is
known as the exit tangent point
 The chainages of the tangent points T
and U can be found as follows:
 Through chainage of T = through chainage
of I – IT
 Through chainage of U = through chainage
of T + Lc
A Design method for circular curves

 In circular curve there are three main

variable: the deflection angle θ, the radius of
curvature and the design speed.
 All new roads are designed for a particular speed
and chosen value depends on type of road and
location of the proposed road.
 Design speeds for particular classes of roads in
Botswana are specified in a Department of Roads
publication entitled the Design Manual for Roads
and Bridges.
A Design method for circular curves

 When designing new roads, there is usually a

specific area within which the proposed road must
fall to avoid certain areas of land and unnecessary
demolition.
 This areas are referred to as a band of interest.
 When improving existing roads, this band of
interest in very clearly defined and if often limited
to the immediate area next to the road being
improved.
 In both cases, there will be a limited range of
values for both θ and R in order that the finished road will
fall within this band of interest.
A Design method for circular curves

 Nowadays, roads are almost invariably designed

using software packages with values θ and R being
input and amended as necessary until a suitable design is
finalised.
 The software contains a map of the area through which the
road is to pass and a variety of different combinations of
intersecting straights can be tested by superimposing them
over the digital map.
 Once a solution is found, which ensures that horizontal
alignment fits into the band of interest and meets any other
criteria specified in the design, θ is given by the software.
The different setting out methods that
are available
 There are a number of methods by which the
centre line can be set out, all of which fall into
one of the following two categories:
 Traditional methods, which involves along the
centre line itself using straights, intersection points
and tangent points for reference. Equipment used
include tapes,, theodolites and total stations.
 Coordinates methods, which use control networks
as reference. These networks take the form of
control points located n site some distance away
from the centre line for use with theodolites, total
stations or GPS receivers.
Reasons for using coordinate method

 There is a wide range of use of total

stations and GPS on site.
 Most of modern design sotfwares are
based on coordinate methods.
 Coordinate method have an advantage
that relocating centre line pegs, which
have been disturbed is much easier to
carryout than by traditional methods
Setting Out circular curves by
traditional methods
 There three traditional methods by which
pegs on the centre line of the curve can
be set out which are:
 The tangential angle method
 Offsets from the tangent lengths
 Offset from the chord length.
Setting Out using Tangential Angle
method

 Most accurate of the traditional methods

and can be used for any circular curve.
 Can be carried out using either
theodolite and tape, two theodolites or a
total station and pole mounted reflector.
 The formula for the tangential angles is
derived as follows and uses an important
relationship developed earlier.
Setting Out using Tangential Angle
method

 Assumption
 Arc length = chord length if chord length ≤
(R/20)
 The length of Chord TK is given by chord TK
= R2α1
 Converting radians to degrees and rearranging gives
α1= (TK/2R)(1800/π)
 In general
α = 90/π(chord length/R) degrees
TANGENTIAL
METHOD
SETTING OUT FIRST POINT
SETTING OUT SECOND
POINT
Tangent Angle using theodolite
Calculation steps
 Calculate the tangent length;
 Calculate the chainage of the curve entry point T;
 Calculate the total curve length;
 Calculate the chainage of the curve exit point U;
 Select suitable standard chord length;
 Determine the initial and the final chord length;
 Calculate the initial, standard and final tangential
angles;
 Tabulate the results.
Example
It is required to connect two intersecting
straights whose deflection angle is 130
16’ 00” by a circular curve of radius
600m. The through chainage of the
intersection point is 2745.72m and the
pegs are required on the centreline of
the curve at exactly 25m multiples of
through chainage.
Solution
Tangent length = IT =Rtan(θ/2)
= 600 tan(060 38’ 00”)
= 69.78m

Thru chainage of T = 2745.72 – 69.78

= 2675.94
Length of initial sub chord = 2700 – 2675.94 = 24.06m
Length of circular curve, Lc = Rθ =(600)(13.2667)π/180
=138.93m
Solution
Thru chainage of U = Thru Chainage of T
+ Lc
= 2675.94 + 138.93
= 2814.87m

Final sub chord = 2814.87 -2800 =

14.87m
Poin chainag Chord Individual Cumulative
t e lengt Tangent Tangential
h angle angle
0 ’ 0 ’
” ”
T 2675.94 0 00 00 00 00 00 00

C1 2700.00 24.06 01 08 56 (α1) 01 08 56

C2 2725.00 25.00 01 11 37 ((α2 02 20 33

)

C3 2750.00 25.00 01 11 37 (α3) 03 32 10

C4 2775,00 25.00 01 11 37 (α4) 04 43 47

C5 2800.00 25.00 01 11 37 (α5) 05 55 24

U 2814.87 14.87 00 42 36 (α6) 06 38 00

Σ138.93 θ/2 = 06 38’ 00”

Tangential Angle method using two
theodolites

 Can be applied when the ground

between the tangent points is such that
taping proves to be difficult, with very
steep slopes, in undulating ground and
across ploughed fields.
 Two theodolites are used, one being set
at each tangent point.
 One disadvantage of this method is that
two of everything is required, which
means two surveyors, two instruments
etc.
Tangential angles method using two
theodolites
Tangential Angle method using two
theodolites

 The method is one of intersecting points

on the curve with the theodolites.
 For example, to fix point Z in the figure
below, α1 is set out from T relative to TI and α1 is
set out from U relative to UT.
 The two lines of sight intersect at Z where an
assistant drives in a peg.
 Good liaison between the instrument operators and
the assistant is vital, for large curves, two-way radios
are essential,
Example
 Using the previous example, below is the
setting data for two theodolites method
Poin chainag Chord Cumulative Cumulative
t e lengt Tangent Tangential
h angle angle
(theodolite
1) (theodolite2)
0 ’ 0 ’
” ”
T 2675.94 0 00 00 00 00 00 00

C1 2700.00 24.06 01 08 56 01 08 56

C2 2725.00 25.00 01 11 37 02 20 33

C3 2750.00 25.00 01 11 37 03 32 10

C4 2775,00 25.00 01 11 37 04 43 47

C5 2800.00 25.00 01 11 37 05 55 24

U 2814.87 14.87 00 42 36 06 38 00
Tangential angles method using a total
station and pole mounted reflector

 In this method a total station is set at

the tangent point and used to turn the
tangential angles as in the method
described earlier using a theodolite and
tape.
 However, instead of measuring lengths
from one peg to another, the distance
measuring component of the total
station is used to set out the length of
each peg directly from the tangent point.
Setting out using total station and pole
mounted reflector
Tangential angles method using a total
station and pole mounted reflector

 The long chord for each peg is calculated

using the following formula: long chord =
2Rsin(α)
 The tangential angles are obtained exactly the
same way as that described earlier for the method
involving a theodolite and tape.
Setting out using offsets from the
lengths

 This method of setting out requires two

tapes.
 Suitable for short curves or curves of
small radius such as kerbs.
 Can also be use to set out additional
points between those previously
established by the other methods.
 Often necessary to give a better
definition of the centre line.
Setting out circular curve from the
tangent length
Setting out circular curve from the
tangent length
Required:
The offset X, at a
known distance Y
along the tangent
length T, to the curve

In triangle OBC
OB2 = OC2 + BC2
Therefore
R2 = (R-X)2+Y2
Setting out circular curve from the
tangent length
From here there are two
routes; either
R-X=(R2-Y2)½ hence
X=R-(R2-Y2)½ (1)

OR
R2=R2-2RX+X2+Y2
Dividing by 2R through
X =(Y2/2R)+(X2/2R)

But (X2/2R) is very small

since R is very large
compared with X and it can
be neglected giving
X=(Y2/2R) (2)
Setting out circular curve from the
tangent length
 Equation (2) above is accurate only for large radii
and will give errors for small radii curves, where
the effect of neglecting the second tern cannot be
justified.
 Once the tangential points have been fixed, the
lines of the tangents can be defined using the
theodolite and offsets (X) set off at right angles at
distance (Y) from T or U.
 Half the curve is set out from each tangent length.
 It is useful to tabulate the X and Y values before
beginning the setting out.
Worked Example
A kerb line is to be set out between two
straights through angle of 60° 00’00”,
such that it forms a circular curve of
radius 25m. Tabulate the data required
to set out the centre line of the curve by
offsets taken at exact 5m intervals along
the tangent lengths. The mid point of the
curve must also be fixed
Solution: Offset from Tangent length
Solution: Offset from Tangent length

X = R-(R2-Y2)
IT = R tan(θ/2) = 25 tan(300 00’00”) =
PI =R[sec(θ/2)-1] = 25[sec(300 00’00”)-1] =

But from triangle IPZ in the figure above

IZ = PI sin(θ/2) = 5.21 sin (300 00’00”) =
Hence the length along the tangent for the offset to the mid-
point P is given by
TZ =IT-IZ =
Setting Out Data for offsets from the
Tangent length

Y VALUE R (R2-Y2)1/2 X VALUE

25 0.00 (T or U)

25

25

25
Setting Out using offsets from the
long Chord
Setting Out using offsets from the
long Chord
 This traditional method requires two
tapes.
 It is suitable for suitable curves of small
radius such as boundary walls and kerb
lines at road intersection.
 Also, it is a very useful method when the
tangent lengths are inaccessible and
offsets
Setting Out using offsets from the
long Chord
Required:
 The offset X from the long
chord TU at distance Y
from E
 All offsets are established
from the mid-point F of
the long chord TU.
 Let the length of chord TU
=W
 In triangle TFO:
OT2 = OF2+TF2
Therefore
R2 = (R-XM)2+(W/2)2
Setting Out using offsets from the
long Chord
From which
(R-Xm) = [R2-(W/2)]½
And
Xm=R-[R2-(W/2)2]½ (1)

In triangle ODE
OD2 = OE2+DE2
Therefore
R2 = (OF+X)2+Y
From which
OF+ X=(R2-X2)½ (2)

But
OF = (R-Xm)
Setting Out using offsets from the
long Chord
Substituting XM from
equation (1)
OF = R[R-(R2-(W/2)2)½]
Or
OF = [R2-(W/2)2]½

Substituting this in equation (2)

gives

X= [R2-Y2]½-[R2-(W/2)2]½
Setting Out using offsets from the
long Chord
 Once the tangent points have been
fixed, the long chord can be defined and
point F established.
 The offsets are then calculated at regular
intervals from point F, both along FT and
along FU.
 It is useful to tabulate the offsets from FT
and FU before beginning the setting out.
Worked Example
A kerb line is to be set out between two
straights through angle of 60° 00’00”,
such that it forms a circular curve of
radius 25m. Tabulate the data required
to set out the centre line of the curve by
offsets taken at exact 5m intervals along
the tangent lengths. The mid point of the
curve must also be fixed