UNIVERSAL COLLEGE OF PARAÑAQUE
FUNDAMENTALS OF SURVEYING
2
REVERSED CURVES
ENGR. CARLO MIGUEL B. VALDEZ
Civil/Structural
Instructor
Civil Engineering Universal College – LMS Online AY 2021-2022 / 2nd
Department Portal Semester
REVERSE CURVES
A reverse curve is a combination of two or more circular curves with the center of curvature on
the opposite side of the curve.
The point where the circular curves meet is called the
point of Reverse Curvature (P.R.C.).
There are four (4) different cases for reverse curves:
1. Parallel tangents, Equal radii
2. Parallel tangents, Unequal radii
3. Non - parallel tangents, Equal radii
4. Non – parallel tangents, Unequal radii
Regardless of the case, the same simple curve principles
can still be used.
Reversed curve, though pleasing to the eye, would bring discomfort to motorist running at
design speed. The instant change in direction at the PRC brought some safety problems.
Despite this fact, reversed curves are being used with great success on park roads, formal
paths, waterway channels, and the like.
Problem Two parallel tangents 10 m. apart are connected by a
reversed curve. The chord length from the P.C. to the P.T.
equals 120 m.
1. Compute the length of tangent with common direction.
2. Determine the equal radius of the reversed curve.
3. Compute the stationing of the P.R.C. if the stationing of A
at the beginning of the tangent with common direction is 3
+ 420.
Problem Two parallel tangents 10 m. apart are connected by a
reversed curve. The chord length from the P.C. to the P.T.
equals 120 m.
1. Compute the length of tangent with common direction.
2. Determine the equal radius of the reversed curve.
3. Compute the stationing of the P.R.C. if the stationing of A
at the beginning of the tangent with common direction is 3
+ 420.
Problem Two parallel tangents 10 m. apart are connected by a
reversed curve. The chord length from the P.C. to the P.T.
equals 120 m.
1. Compute the length of tangent with common direction.
2. Determine the equal radius of the reversed curve.
3. Compute the stationing of the P.R.C. if the stationing of A
at the beginning of the tangent with common direction is 3
+ 420.
Problem Two parallel tangents 10 m. apart are connected by a
reversed curve. The chord length from the P.C. to the P.T.
equals 120 m.
1. Compute the length of tangent with common direction.
2. Determine the equal radius of the reversed curve.
3. Compute the stationing of the P.R.C. if the stationing of A
at the beginning of the tangent with common direction is 3
+ 420.
Problem In a rail road layout, the centerline of two parallel
tracks are connected with a reversed curve of unequal radii.
The central angle of the first curve is and the distance between
parallel tracks is 27.60 m. stationing of the P.C. is 15 + 420 and
the radius of the second curve is 290 m.
1. Compute the length of the long chord from the P.C. to P.T.
2. Compute the radius of the first curve.
3. Compute the stationing of the P.T.
Problem In a rail road layout, the centerline of two parallel
tracks are connected with a reversed curve of unequal radii.
The central angle of the first curve is and the distance between
parallel tracks is 27.60 m. stationing of the P.C. is 15 + 420 and
the radius of the second curve is 290 m.
1. Compute the length of the long chord from the P.C. to P.T.
2. Compute the radius of the first curve.
3. Compute the stationing of the P.T.
Problem In a rail road layout, the centerline of two parallel
tracks are connected with a reversed curve of unequal radii.
The central angle of the first curve is and the distance between
parallel tracks is 27.60 m. stationing of the P.C. is 15 + 420 and
the radius of the second curve is 290 m.
1. Compute the length of the long chord from the P.C. to P.T.
2. Compute the radius of the first curve.
3. Compute the stationing of the P.T.
Problem In a rail road layout, the centerline of two parallel
tracks are connected with a reversed curve of unequal radii.
The central angle of the first curve is and the distance between
parallel tracks is 27.60 m. stationing of the P.C. is 15 + 420 and
the radius of the second curve is 290 m.
1. Compute the length of the long chord from the P.C. to P.T.
2. Compute the radius of the first curve.
3. Compute the stationing of the P.T.
