Curves

Compound Curves

When it is not possible to connect the two tangents by one

circular curve it becomes necessary to take a suitable
common tangent and set out two curves of different radii
bending in the same direction to connect the rare and
forward tangents. This curve is known as compound curve.

Typical Compound Curve

(Cont)
AB is rare tangent BC is forward
tangent and DE is common tangent. is
deflection angle between rare and forward
tangents, and 1 is deflection angle between
rare and common tangent. Similarly 2 is the
deflection angle between common and forward
tangent.
O1 is the centre of short curve and O2 sit he
centre of long curve. RS is the radius of short
curve. RL is the radius of long curve. T1 and
T2 are the tangent point for the short curves.

(Cont)
T2 and T3 are the tangent points
for the long curves.
TS = Total tangent length
TL = Total tangent length
tS = Tangent length of short curve
tL = Tangent length of long curve
I = Intersection angle

Elements of Compound
Curve
1.

2.

3.
TS = T1 D + B D
= 180 I
(i)
= 1 + 2
BDE
In B D E
=
DE
I = 180 ( 1 + 2 ) B D
Sin 2
Sin I
tS = RS tan 1 / 2 = T1 D

= D T2
tL = RL tan 2 / 2 = T2 E
D E = D T 2 + T2 E
= tS + tL

B D = Sin 2 x D E
Sin I
or B D = Sin 2 x D E
Sin ( 180 )

(Cont)
or B D = Sin 2
Sin
TS = T 1 D + B D
= tS + D E Sin 2
Sin
= tS + ( tS + tL) Sin 2
Sin
TS = RS tan 1 + RS tan 1 + RL tan 2 Sin
2
2
2
2
Sin
TL = RL tan 2 + RS tan 1 + RL tan 2 Sin
2
22
2
Sin

(Cont)
Curve Length:
Short Curve Length = RS 1 /180
Longer Curve Length = RL 2 /180
5. Deflection Angle:
For short curve.
S = 1718.9 CS
RS
CS is sub chord of short curve.
For long curve
L = 1718.9 CL
RL
6. Chain age of T1 = Chain age of B T S
Chain age of T2 = Chain age of T1 + Sort Curve length
Chain age of T3 = Chain age of T2 + Long Curve length
4.

Mode of Procedure

I.
II.

In the fig, AB is the rare tangent and BC is

forward and DE is common tangent.
Tangent lengths BT1 and BT3 are calculated, and so
are the curve lengths between T1 and T2, T2 and T3
( short curve length ) & ( long curve length)

(Cont)
3.
4.

5.

6.

7.

The chain age of T1, T2 and T3 are find out and set out
on the ground.
The deflection angles for the short and long curves
are calculated for respective chords, and the setting
out table is prepared.
The theodolite is centered over T 1 and leveled
properly. Then the deflection angles for the sub
chord of short curve are set out serially and point P 1,
P2 etc are marked until tangent point T 2 is reached.
The theodolite is shifted and centered over T 2 then
the deflection angle for the chords of long curve are
set out serially and point P3, P4 etc. are marked until
the tangent point T3 is reached.
All the points are then joined to get the shape of the
curve.

Problem
Two tangents AB and BC
intersect at B another line DE
intersects AB & BC at D &
E such that < AE = 150 and
<DC = 140, the radius of 1st curve
is 200m and that of the 2nd curve is
300m . The chain age of B is
950m . Calculate all data necessary
for setting out the compound curve.

(Cont)
Solution:
RS = 200 m
RL = 300 m
= 1 + 2
= 30 + 40
= 70
TS = RS tan 1 + RS tan 1 + RL tan 2 Sin 2
2
2
2
Sin
= 200 x tan (15) + 200 x tan (15) + 300 x tan (20)
Sin 40
Sin 70
TS = 164.93 m
Similarly, TL = 195.8 m

(Cont)
Short Curve Length:
lS = RS 1 /180
= 200 x 30 /180 = 104.72 m
Long Curve Length:
lL = 300 x 40 /180 = 209.439 m
Chain age of point T1
= Chain age of Pt B T1B
= 950 165
T1 = 785 m
Chain age of Point T2
= Chain age of Pt T1 + Short Curve Length
= 785 + 104.72
T2 = 889.72 m

(Cont)

Chain age of point T3

= Chain age of T2 + Long Curve Length
= 889.72 + 209.439
T3 = 1099.16 m
Deflection angles for short curve,
Taking length of sub chord = 20 m
No. of full sub chords = 5 ( 5 x 20 = 100 m)
Length of final sub chord = 4.72 m
(104.72
100)
Curve length
= 1718.9 lS
RS
= 1718.9 x 20 = 2 51 53
200
Final chord = 4.72
= 1718.9 x 4.72 = 0 40 33
200

Setting out Table:

Chor
Total
Chai d
Deflecti
Poi n
Deflecti
on
Leng
Remarks
nt
on
Age th
Angle
Angle
m
1st
T1
785 ------tangent
pt
2 51
2 51
P1 805 20
53
53
2 51
5 43
P2 825 20
53
46

(Cont)
Deflection angles for the long curve.
Let Peg interval = 20 m
Length of initial sub chord ( let ) =
10.28 m
Peg initial = 20 m; 9 pegs = 180.00 m
Length of final sub chord = 19.16 m
( 209.44 190.28)
Peg interval can also be choose by R/20

Setting out Table for Larger

Curve
Chor
Deflection
Total
d
Angle
Leng
= 1718.9
th
l / RS
m L

Poi
nt

Chai
n
Age

T2

889.7
--2

P6

900

10.28 0 58 54

P7

920

20

1 54 35.6

P8

940

20

1 54 35.6

P9

960

20

1 54 35.6

P10

980

20

1 54 35.6

P11

1000

20

1 54 35.6

P12

1020

20

1 54 35.6

P13

1040

20

1 54 35.6

---

Deflecti
Remarks
on
Angle
---

Tangent pt on
common
tangent

Thanks