Survey Engineering

Practical Lecture

Horizontal Curve

Polytechnic University-Erbil
Civil Engineering Department

Prepared by
Lecturer: Razhan Sherwan
 Geometry of Horizontal curve
The purpose of these curves is
to deflect a vehicle travelling
along one of the straights
safely and comfortably through
a deflection angle to enable T

it to continue its journey

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along the other straight
T

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 Type of Horizontal Curve

1- Simple Curve A simple circular curve consists

of one are of constant radius R, these are the most
commonly used type of curves.

2-Compound Circular Curves

A compound curve consists of two
(or more)circular curves between
two main tangents joined
at point of compound curve (PCC).
3-Reversed curve
It is needed when the two tangent line are
parallel. It would bring discomfort to
motorist running at design speed.
 Elements of Horizontal curve
Point of Intersection (PI): the point at which the two tangents to the curve
intersect
Delta Angle: the angle between the tangents is also equal to the angle at the
center of the curve
Point of Curve (PC): the beginning point of the curve
Point of Tangent (PT): the end point of the curve
Tangent Distance (T): the distance from the PC to PI or from the PI to PT
External Distance (E): the distance from the PI to the middle point of the curve
Middle Ordinate (M): the distance from the middle point of the curve to the
middle of the chord joining the PC and PT
Long Chord (LC): the distance along the line joining the PC and the PT
Length of Curve(L): the difference in stationing along the curve between the
PC and the PT
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Geometry of circular curve

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 Methods of Setting out

1.Tangential angle method

2.Offsets from the tangent lengths
3.Offsets from the long chord
 Method-1-Tangential angle method
Example:
It is required to connect two intersecting straights whose deflection angle is
131832 by a circular curve of radius 600m. Pegs are required on the
centreline of the curve at exact multiples of 25m of through chainage.
Tabulate the data necessary to set out the curve by the tangential angles
method using a theodolite and tape.
Solution:
Tangent length=IT=R tan/2=600 tan 06 3916 =70m
Length of Circuler Curve=LC=R ( in Radians).
LC= (600 x 13.30888 x 180 ) =139.37m
Chainage=25m
First sub-chord length=25m and Length of Curve=139.37m
5 pegs x 25 = 125m :. Final sub-chord is 139.37-125= 14.37m
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 Find the tangential angle
General Chords=25m= 90/ (25600) = 11137
Final sub-chord=14.37=90/ (14.37600)=04110

Individual Tangential angle Comulative Tangential agnle

Point Chainage Chord length

" "
PC
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
C1
25 25 1 11 37 1 11 37
C2
50 25 1 11 37 2 23 14
C3
75 25 1 11 37 3 34 51
C4
100 25 1 11 37 4 46 28
C5
125 25 1 11 37 5 58 5
PT
139.37 14.37 0 41 10 6 39 15

Lc=139.37m ;. Checks /2= 639'16" ;. Checks

 PROCEDURE SETTING OUT Practical

I GIVEN DEFLECTION ANGLE ,

=13018 32

13016 00

PC PT
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 PROCEDURE SETTING OUT Practical

PC PT

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 Method-2- Offsets from Tangent Lengths

This method is suitable for short curves or small radius.

Require length of the offset X and known distances along the tangent length Y
from T:

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 Example-Procedure

Tangent length = 24m

Offset = 4m
Radius = 12
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Points Offset, Y X= Y2/2R
PC 0 0
1 4m 0.67m
2 8m 2.67m
3 12m 6m
4 16m 10.67m
5 20m 16.67m
PT 24m 24m

PC
PT 13
 Method-3-3.Offsets from the long chord
This traditional method also requires two tapes and is also suitable for curves of small
radius such as kerbs or boundary walls.
We require the offset length X from the chord TU at a distance Y from F. This may be
obtained from the following formula:

Where:
R=Radius of the curve
X=Vertical offset
Y=Horizontal offset
W=Length of chord
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 Example, Practical
Long chord length (W) = 16.8
w/2 = 8.4m
Offset = 2m
Radius =12m

X= (R2-Y2)-
Offset, Y (R2 -(W/2)2) 2) Stake the centre point of long
0 3.43m chord line PC to PT = offset 0M
2 3.26m
4 2.74m
6 1.82m
8 0.37m

2.74m
3,43m
3.26m
2.74m

3.26m
8.4 0.000

1.82m
1.82m
0.37m

0.37m
PC PT
O8.4m O8m O6m O4m O2m O0m O2m O4m O O8.4m
6m O8m
W = 16.8 m2 m 2m 2m 2 m o.4m

W/2 = 8.845m W/2 = 8.845m

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