Spiral Curve

Spirals are used to overcome the abrupt change in

curvature and superelevation that occurs between
tangent and circular curve. The spiral curve is used to
gradually change the curvature and superelevation of the
road, thus called transition curve.

003-spiral-curve-transition-curve.gif
Elements of Spiral Curve
TS = Tangent to spiral
SC = Spiral to curve
CS = Curve to spiral
ST = Spiral to tangent
LT = Long tangent
ST = Short tangent
R = Radius of simple curve
Ts = Spiral tangent distance
Tc = Circular curve tangent
L = Length of spiral from TS to any point along the spiral
Ls = Length of spiral
PI = Point of intersection
I = Angle of intersection
Ic = Angle of intersection of the simple curve
p = Length of throw or the distance from tangent that
the circular curve has been offset
X = Offset distance (right angle distance) from tangent
to any point on the spiral
Xc = Offset distance (right angle distance) from tangent
to SC
Y = Distance along tangent to any point on the spiral
Yc = Distance along tangent from TS to point at right
angle to SC
Es = External distance of the simple curve
θ = Spiral angle from tangent to any point on the spiral
θs = Spiral angle from tangent to SC
i = Deflection angle from TS to any point on the spiral, it
is proportional to the square of its distance
is = Deflection angle from TS to SC
D = Degree of spiral curve at any point
Dc = Degree of simple curve

003-magnified-spiral-curve.gif

Formulas for Spiral Curves

Distance along tangent to any point on the spiral:
Y=L−L540R2Ls2
At L = Ls, Y = Yc, thus,
Yc=Ls−Ls340R2

Offset distance from tangent to any point on the spiral:

X=L36RLs

At L = Ls, X = Xc, thus,

Xc=Ls26R

Length of throw:
p=14Xc=Ls224R

Spiral angle from tangent to any point on the spiral (in

radian):
θ=L22RLs

At L = Ls, θ = θs, thus,

θs=Ls2R

Deflection angle from TS to any point on the spiral:

i=13θ=L26RLs

At L = Ls, i = is, thus,

i=13θs=Ls6R

This angle is proportional to the square of its distance

iis=L2Ls2

Tangent distance:
Ts=Ls2+(R+P)tanI2

Angle of intersection of simple curve:

Ic=I−2θs

External distance:
 Es=R+PcosI2−R

Degree of spiral curve:

DDC=LLs