DCC 3093 : Engineering Survey 2

Chapter 4 : Curve
CHAPTER 4 : CURVE

Purpose of curve
Many types of construction, such as roads and railways, two straights will normally be
connected by a curve wherever there is change in direction.
Types of Curves
There are two types of curves provided primarily for the comfort and ease of the motorists in
the road namely:
1. Horizontal Curve
2. Vertical Curve

Horizontal Curves
Horizontal curves are provided to change the direction or alignment of a road. Horizontal
Curve are circular curves or circular arcs. The sharpness of a curve increases as the radius is
decrease which makes it risky and dangerous. The main design criterion of a horizontal curve
is the provision of an adequate safe stopping sight distance.

Vertical Curves
Vertical curves are provided to change the slope in the road and may or may not. be
symmetrical. They are parabolic and not circular like horizontal curves. Identifying the
proper grade and the safe passing sight distance is the main design criterion of the vertical
curve, in crest vertical curve the length should be enough to provide safe stopping sight
distance and in sag vertical curve the length is important as it influences the factors such as
headlight sight distance, rider comfort and drainage requirements.

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DCC 3093 : Engineering Survey 2

Chapter 4 : Curve

Figure: concept of curve ranging

IP
intersecti
on Point
Deflectio
n angle
Long
chord
Length of
curve

the point at which the two tangents to the curve intersect

the angle between the tangents is also equal to the angle at the
centre of the curve
the distance along the line joining the BC and the EC
The length of a circular curve (L) is dependent on the central angle ()
and the value of R (radius).

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DCC 3093 : Engineering Survey 2

Chapter 4 : Curve

DEFLECTION ANGLE METHOD

Tangent
line

BC

EC
Figure: deflection angle method

Example
Tabulate data needed to set out, a circular curve of radius 500m to connect two
straights deflecting through an angle of 20 22 . The chainage of the intersection
of the tangents is 2140.00 m and interval 20m

Tangent line =

r tan

deflection angle
2

500 tan

20 22
2

= 89.814 m

Chainage of BC

= Ch IP tangent line

= 2140.00 89.814
= 2050.186
Length of curve

500

deflection angle

180

20 22

180

= 177.733

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DCC 3093 : Engineering Survey 2

Chapter 4 : Curve
Chainage of EC

= Chainage of BC + length of curve

= 2050.186 + 177.733
= 2227.919
Deflection angle for laying
=

1718.9 x

chord
60
redius

Poi
nt
BC

Chainag
e
2050.19

chord
0

Cumulati
ve chord
0

angle
0

Cumulativ
e angle
0

2070.00

19.81

19.814

1 08 06

1 08 07

2090.00

20

39.814

1 08 45

2 16 53

2110.00

20

59.814

1 08 45

3 25 36

2130.00

20

79.814

1 08 45

4 34 20

2150.00

20

99.814

1 08 45

5 43 06

2170.00

20

119.814

1 08 45

6 51 51

2190.00

20

139.814

1 08 45

8 00 36

2210.00

20

159.814

1 08 45

9 09 21

2227.92

17.92

177.733

1 01 36

10 10 57

OFFSET FROM TANGENT LINE METHOD

Figure: Offset from tangent line method

x=r r 2 y 2

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DCC 3093 : Engineering Survey 2

Chapter 4 : Curve

Poi
nt
BC
1
2
3
4
IP

Chainag
e
2050.19
2070
2090
2110
2130
2140

Chord

0
19.81
20
20
20
10

redius

19.81
39.81
59.81
79.81
89.81

500
500
500
500
500

499.61
498.41
496.41
493.59
491.868

0.39
1.59
3.59
6.41
8.13

OFFSET FROM LONG CHORD METHOD

Figure: Offset from long chord method

Length of long chord

2 r sin

2 (500 ) sin

20 22
2

=176.8
Half-length of long chord =

176.8
2

= 88.4
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DCC 3093 : Engineering Survey 2

Chapter 4 : Curve
Mid ordinate, O

=
Interval
,x
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
88.4

500 5002 ( 88.4 )

r r 2

longchord
2

rediu
s

Ordinate
,O

500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500

7.88
7.88
7.88
7.88
7.88
7.88
7.88
7.88
7.88

7.78
7.48
6.98
6.28
5.37
4.27
2.96
1.44
0.003

= 7.88

Y=

r 2x 2(rO)

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