Department of Civil Engineering: Horizontal Curves

1
Department of Civil Engineering

Name
Class Date set
Surveying II
Lecturer DSF Date due
Horizontal Curves Ref. v 1 Grade
Introduction
Straight sections of road or track are connected by curves
Horizontal and vertical alignments must be considered
Horizontal curves are used to join two horizontal straights
Vertical curves are used to join two vertical straights
These notes concern horizontal curves, we are therefore concerned
with horizontal distances, horizontal angles, and plan co-ordinates
Circular curve constant radius
Transition curve
decreasing radius then increasing radius
2
Composite curve decreasing radius (entry transition),
constant radius (circular arc),
increasing radius (exit transition)
R
1
small radius, tight curve, short tangent lengths, short curve length
R
2
large radius, shallow curve, long tangent lengths, long curve length
3
Terminology of Circular Curves
I = Intersection Point
T and U = Tangent Points
= Deflection Angle = angle CIU
R = Radius of Curvature
O = Centre of Curvature
TU = Long Chord
TI = IU = Tangent Length
Q = any point on the curve TPU
Angle ITQ = a Tangential Angle
Remember
Tangent Length (TI and IU) = R tan(/2)
Curve Length (TPU) = R /180
Length of Long Chord (TU) = 2 R sin(/2)
4
Question
An entry straight has a bearing of 57 degrees 22 minutes and 53
seconds
The exit straight has a bearing of 112 degrees 19 minutes and 38
seconds
What is the deflection angle, ? (draw a diagram)
Through Chainage
Through Chainage or Chainage is a distance, usually in metres,
measured from the start of the scheme, to a particular point on the
centre-line.
Often, we will know the Chainage of I. In this case:
Chainage of T = Chainage of I Tangent Length TI
Chainage of U = Chainage of T + Curve Length
5
Question
The Intersection Point, I, between two straights has the co-ordinates
624.64mE, 1143.08mN, and its Through Chainage is 2472.34m
A point, A, on the entry straight has the co-ordinates 541.23mE,
1092.77mN
A point, B, on the exit straight has the co-ordinates 730.21mE,
1105.50mN
A circular curve of radius 200m is to connect the two straights
Calculate the Through Chainage of the Tangent Points, T and U.
Hints:
Draw a diagram
You need to know the deflection angle, so you need to know the
bearings of the straights
Rect to Pol co-ordinate conversion from point A to point I will give the
bearing of the entry straight
The same for point I to point B will give the bearing of the exit straight
The difference in the bearings is the deflection angle
You know the formula for the Tangent Length
You know the formula for the Curve Length
You know how to work out the Through Chainage of the Tangent Points
from the Chainage of I, the Tangent Length and the Curve Length
Easy
6
Horizontal Curve Design
As with most Engineering Design problems, there are usually many
acceptable solutions
There is usually a band of interest within which our road alignment
must fall to avoid certain areas of land, and existing features
The designer might have some control over the bearings of the entry
and exit straights (and hence the deflection angle)
In a new road scheme, the band of interest may be quite large, giving
the designer a lot of flexibility
In the re-alignment of an existing road, the band of interest may be very
narrow, giving the designer little choice
The designer may also choose the radius for the curve, though this
must ensure that the road alignment stays within the band of interest
Obviously a tight bend (small radius) on a fast road is not a good
design, so the design speed for the road is another design variable
In the UK, the Department of Transport specify minimum radii for
horizontal curves on roads of different design speeds
The road designer therefore has to adjust deflection angle and radius to
ensure that the alignment fits within the band of interest, making sure
that the radius is above the published minimum for the given road
design speed
More flexibility is given by using composite curves rather than circular
curves, and by using superelevation (banking)
There are other factors to consider such as sight distance
All these variables make road design an ideal application for a
computer. The computer program would normally produce co-ordinates
for the centre-line of the road at regular intervals of through chainage
(e.g. every 10m).
Setting Out
Surveying textbooks (e.g. Surveying for Engineers, by Uren and Price)
describe several methods of setting out horizontal curves using one or
more theodolites and tapes, based on setting out data produced by
hand calculation. These methods are quite slow, though they do allow
checks on the setting out to be easily made.
Setting out is more commonly done from co-ordinates produced by a
road design computer package. You will do this during your residential
field course later in the Semester.
For small curves (such as kerb lines on minor roads) a quicker, simpler
and cheaper method is often used, such as by Offsets from the Long
Chord. (See example).

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