Content:

 Introduction
 Types of Curves
Introduction:-
 Curves are provided whenever a road changes its direction
from right to S (vice versa) or changes its alignment from up to
down (vice versa).
 Curves are a critical element in the pavement design. They are
provided with a maximum speed limit that should lie followed
very strictly.
 Following the speed limit becomes essential as the exceed in
speed may lead to the chances of the vehicle becoming out of
control while negotiating a turn and thus increase the odds of
fatal accidents.
 Also, it is very necessary that appropriate safety measures be
adopted at all horizontal and vertical curves to make the
infrastructure road user friendly and decrease the risks of
hazardous circumstances.
 The low cost safety measures that can be adopted at curves
included pavement markings, flexible posts, road safety
barriers, rumble strips etc.

Straight
lines

curves
Types of Curves:
 There are two types of curves :
1. Horizontal Curve
2. Vertical Curve
 Curves

Horizontal Curves Vertical Curves

1. Summit Curve
2. Valley Curve
Circular Curves Transition Curves

1. Simple Curve 1. Cubic Parabola

2. Compound Curve 2. Spiral curve
3. Reverse Curve 3. Lemniscates
 Vertical curve
Horizontal
Curve

(i) Plan (ii) Elevation

 Circular
Curve

Right - Hand
Left - Hand Curve
Curve Transition
Curve

Straight Line

Classification Of Curves
Horizontal Curves:
 Horizontal curves are in plan, while vertical curves in a vertical
section.
 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.
Types Of Circular Curves

 There are three types of circular curves:

1. Simple curve
2. Compound curve
3. Reverse curve
 1) Simple curve:

• A simple curve consists of a single are of the circle.

• It is tangential to both the straight lines.
• A simple arc provided in the road to impose a curve between the
two straight lines.
 A Arc Of circle
Tangent B

R
R Tangent

Simple Curve
2)Compound Curves:
 A compound curve consists of two or more simple arcs.
 Combination of two simple curves combined together to curve
in the same direction
 The simple arcs turn in the same direction with their centers of
curvature on the same side of the common tangent.
 B

Common Tangent
A C

R2
Tangent Tangent
R1 O2

O1

Compound Curve
3) Reverse Curve :
 A reverse curve consists of tow circular arcs which have their
centers of curvature on the opposite side of the common
tangent.
 The two arcs turn in the opposite direction .
 Reverse curves are provided for low speed roads and railways.
Reverse Curve
O2
R2
C
R2

A
R1

R1
Common
Tangent
O1
Transition curve
 Definition
 A transition curve differs from a circular curve in that its radius
is always changing.
 As one would expect, such curves involve more complex
formulae than the curves
with a constant radius and their design is more complex.
Radial Force and Design Speed
 When a vehicle moves on a curve, thrre are two forces
acting:
1. Weight of the vehicle (W)
2. Centrifugal force (p)
 A vehicle of mass m, travelling at a constant speed v, along a
curve of radius r, is subjected to a centrifugal force P such
that:
v 2
p
gr

 The centrifugal force (p) is inversely proportional to the

1
radius of the curve. p
r
Requirement of an ideal transition curve
 The radius of the transition curve should gradually decrease
from infinite at the point of tangency to the radius of curve near
the circular curve.
 The rate of increase of curvature should be equal to the rate of
increase of super elevation.
 The length of transition curve(Ls)should be such that the full
super elevation is obtained where transition curve meet the
circular curve.
 The length of transition curve should be inversely proportional
to the radius of the curve.
 Types of Transition Curve
1. The clothoid/ spiral
2. Lemniscate
3. The cubic parabola

 The spiral curve satisfy all the requirement of an ideal

transition curve. So spiral is an ideal transition curve