HORIZONTAL CURVES

Introduction
In highway or railroad construction, the curves most generally used presently are
circular curves although parabolic and other curves are sometimes used. A curve
taken as a section of a circle is known as simple curve.
Curves are arcs provided between intersecting straights to negotiate a change in
a direction.
 HORIZONTAL CURVES
Functions of Curves
To avoid sudden change in the line of communication e.g., in roads, railways,
canals etc… it becomes necessary to provide curves. As shown in the figure, it is
desired to go from direction AB to direction BC, it will be quite difficult for a
vehicle to go up to point B and then take a turn in the direction of BC. The vehicle
will have to slow down. This becomes even more difficult in case of long trains.
But if these two points are joined by a curve, the change can be comfortably
adopted by the vehicle. This curve provides a gradual change and makes the
change safe, comfortable & easy.
 HORIZONTAL CURVES

1. Horizontal curve
• The principal consideration
in the design of a curve is
the selection of the length
of the radius or the degree
of curvature.
• This selection is based on
such considerations as the
design speed of the highway
and the sight distance as
limited by headlights or
obstructions (see Fig. 1).
 HORIZONTAL CURVES
1. Horizontal Curve
Types of Horizontal Curves
There are four types of horizontal curves. They are described as follows:
A. Simple. The simple curve is an arc of a circle (view A, fig. 2). The radius of the
circle determines the sharpness or flatness of the curve.
B. Compound. Frequently, the terrain will require the use of the compound curve.
This curve normally consists of two simple curves joined together and curving in
the same direction (view B, fig. 2).
C. Reverse. A reverse curve consists of two simple curves joined together, but
curving in opposite direction. For safety reasons, the use of this curve should be
avoided when possible (view C, fig. 2).
D. Spiral. The spiral is a curve that has a varying radius. It is used on railroads and
most modern highways. Its purpose is to provide a transition from the tangent to
a simple curve or between simple curves in a compound curve (view D, fig. 2).
 HORIZONTAL CURVES
1. Horizontal curve
 SIMPLE CURVES
Simple Curve
A simple curve is a circular arc, extending from
one tangent to the next. The point where the
curve leaves the first tangent is called the
“point of curvature” PC and the point where
the curve joins the second tangent is called
“point of tangency” PT . If the tangent be
produced, they will meet in a point of
intersection called “vertex” (PI). The distance
from the vertex to the curve is called the
“external distance” E . While the line joining
the middle of the curve and the middle of the
chord line joining the PC and PT is called
“middle ordinate” (M).
 SIMPLE CURVES
Sharpness of Curve
1) Degree of Curve (Arc Basis) - Degree of curve is the angle at the center
subtended by an arc of 20 m in the metric system or 100 ft. in English system.
This is the method generally used in Highway practice.
a) Metric System 20 m – Metric
100 ft - English

b) English System
 SIMPLE CURVES
Sharpness of Curve
2) Degree of Curve (Chord Basis) - is the angle subtended by a chord of 20
meters in Metric System and 100 ft. in English System.
a) Metric System

b) English System

Radius – Length of radius is stated.

 SIMPLE CURVES

Elements of Horizontal Curves

• PC = Point of curvature. It is the beginning of
curve.
• PT = Point of tangency. It is the end of curve.
• PI = Point of intersection of the tangents. Also
called vertex
• T = Length of tangent from PC to PI and from PI
to PT. It is known as subtangent.
• R = Radius of simple curve, or simply radius.
• L = Length of chord from PC to PT. Point Q as
shown below is the midpoint of L.
• Lc = Length of curve from PC to PT. Point M in
the figure is the midpoint of Lc.
 SIMPLE CURVES

Elements of Horizontal Curves

• E = External distance, the nearest distance from
PI to the curve.
• m = Middle ordinate, the distance from
midpoint of curve to midpoint of chord.
• I = Deflection angle (also called angle of
intersection and central angle). It is the angle of
intersection of the tangents. The angle
subtended by PC and PT at O is also equal to I,
where O is the center of the circular curve from
the above figure.
• x = offset distance from tangent to the curve.
Note: x is perpendicular to T.
• θ = offset angle subtended at PC between PI and any point in the curve
 SIMPLE CURVES
Formulas of Simple Curves
1. Tangent distance,

2. External distance,

3. Middle ordinate,

4. Length of chord,

5. Length of curve, Lc
 SIMPLE CURVES
Example 1. The angle of intersection of a circular curve is 45°30' and its radius is
198.17 m. PC is at Sta. 0 + 700. Compute the right angle offset from Sta. 0 +
736.58 on the curve to tangent through PC.
Solution:
Length of curve from PC to A:
s = 736.58−700 = 36.58 m
Angle subtended by arc “s” from the center of the curve:
 SIMPLE CURVES
Example 1. The angle of intersection of a circular curve is 45°30' and its radius is
198.17 m. PC is at Sta. 0 + 700. Compute the right angle offset from Sta. 0 +
736.58 on the curve to tangent through PC.
Solution:
Length of offset x:
 SIMPLE CURVES
Example 2. The angle of intersection of a circular curve is 36° 30'. Compute the
radius if the external distance is 12.02 m.
Solution:

=?

=?
 SIMPLE CURVES
Example 3. Given the following elements of a circular curve: middle ordinate = 2
m; length of long chord = 70 m. Find its degree of curve, use arc basis.
Solution:
Apply Pythagorean Theorem to find the radius:
 SIMPLE CURVES
Example 3. Given the following elements of a circular curve: middle ordinate = 2
m; length of long chord = 70 m. Find its degree of curve, use arc basis.
Solution:
Degree of curve (arc basis):
 SIMPLE CURVES
Example 4: A circular curve of 500 m radius to be set out joining the two
straights with deflection angle of 38⁰. The peg interval is 30 m length and the
chainage of I (60 + 13.385). Calculate the different elements of the curve.
Calculations of elements of the Curve
 Tangent length (T)= R tan(∆/2) = 500*tan19⁰ = 172.164m
 Length of the curve (L) = (πR∆/180) = (π*500*38⁰/180)
= 331.613 m
 Long chord (Lc)= 2Rsin(∆/2) = 2*500*sin(38⁰/2)
= 325.57 m
 External dist. (E)= R(sec (∆/2)–1) = 500*(sec(38⁰/2) - 1)
= 28.81 m
 Mid ordinate (M)= R(1–cos (∆/2)) = 500*(1 - cos(38⁰/2))
= 27.24 m
 SIMPLE CURVES
Example 4: A circular curve of 500 m radius to be set out joining the two
straights with deflection angle of 38⁰. The peg interval is 30 m length and the
chainage of I (60 + 13.385). Calculate the different elements of the curve.
Calculations of elements of the Curve
 Chainage of PC = Chainage of I – T =
= 60x30 + 13.385 – 172.164 = 1641.221 = 54 + 21.22
 Chainage of PT = Chainage of PC + L =
= 1641.221 + 331.613 = 1972.834 = 65 + 22.83