I – OBJECTIVE

1. To lay out a compound curve using chord and mid-ordinate method.

II – TOOLS / EQUIPMENTS / INSTRUMENTS

Marking Pins

Fiberglass Tape Measure

Marking Chalk

III – PROCEDURE

For First curve

1. Establish a point along the ground mark it as PI (Point of Intersection).
2. Using fiber glass tape, from PI measure the tangent distance equal to
8.816 then mark the end of the line as BC (Beginning of the Curve).
3. From PI measure an angle equal to 20° then swing a tangent distance
equal to 8.816 meter.
4. From BC swing a chord distance equal to 17.365 meter. Mark the point
of intersection as PCC (Point of Common Curvature).
5. Compute all the center of the line and off-set for each station.
6. Locate the center of line BC-PCC. From the center of the line lay-out
the off-set distance and mark it as station MC.
7. Locate the center of the line BC-MC. From the center of the line lay-out
the off-set distance and mark it as station 1/4∆.
8. Locate the center of the line BC- 1/4∆. From the center of the line lay-
out the off-set distance and mark it as station 1/8∆.
9. Locate the center of the line EC-MC. From the center of the line lay-out
the off-set distance and mark it as station 3/4∆.
10. Locate the center of the line PCC- 3/4∆. From the center of the line lay-
out the off-set distance and mark it as station 7/8∆.
11. Locate the center of line BC-3/4∆. From the center of the line lay-out
the off-set distance and mark it as station 3/8∆.
12. Locate the center of line PCC-1/4∆. From the center of the line lay-out
the off-set distance and mark it as station 5/8∆.

For Second Curve

1. Extend the tangent line of previous curve.
2. Use the surveyor’s tape measure to lay down the computed distance
along the extended tangent line from point PCC to point PI.
 3. From point PCC swing the computed distance for chord and from PI
swing the computed distance for tangent line, mark the intersection and
name it as point PT (Point of Tangency).
4. Compute all the center of the line and off-set for each station.
5. Do the same process for method 1 and method 2 just like what you do
on the 1st curve.

IV – DRAWING / SKETCH / PHOTO

Compound Curve

1st Curve

Station MC

Station 1/4∆

Station 3/4∆ Station 1/8∆

Station 3/4∆

Station 7/8∆

Station 3/8∆

Station 5/8∆

2nd Curve

Station MC
Station 1/4∆

Station 1/8∆ (figure 1.3)

Station 3/4∆ (figure 1.4)

Station 7/8∆ (figure 1.5)

Station 3/8∆ (figure 1.6)

Station 5/8∆ (figure 1.7)

V. RESULTS / OBSERVATIONS
We observe that this fieldwork is the most accurate procedure among all the
methods that we perform. Through computing the chord and mid ordinate is
easy for us to lay-out a curve.

VI. DATA
1st Curve

R= 50m
I = 20°
Station Chord, C (m) Mid-Ordinate, MO (m)
BC 0 0
1/8Δ 4.36 0.048
1/4 Δ 8.72 0.19
3/8 Δ 13.05 0.43
MC 17.365 0.76
5/8 Δ 13.05 0.43
3/4 Δ 8.72 0.19
7/8 Δ 4.36 0.048
EC 0 0
2nd Curve

R= 30m
I = 18°
Station Chord, C (m) Mid-Ordinate, MO (m)
BC 0 0
1/8Δ 2.36 0.02
1/4 Δ 4.71 0.09
3/8 Δ 7.05 0.21
MC 9.39 0.37
5/8 Δ 7.05 0.21
3/4 Δ 4.71 0.09
7/8 Δ 2.36 0.02
EC 0 0

VII – FORMULA
𝐶 = 2𝑅𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑆𝑡𝑎.• 𝐼) 𝑀𝑂 = 𝑅[1 − cos(𝑆𝑡𝑎.• 𝐼)]

Where: C – Chord distance

MO – Mid-Ordinate
R – Radius
I – Central Angle
Sta. – Station (from BC – EC)

VIII – COMPUTATIONS
1st Curve

0 0
*BC: C0/8 Δ = 2 • 50sin⁡(8 • 20) MO0/8 Δ = 50[1 − cos (8 • 20)]
=0 =0

1 1
*1/8Δ: C1/8 Δ = 2 • 50sin⁡(8 • 20) MO1/8 Δ = 50[1 − cos (8 • 20)]
= 4.36m = 0.048m

1 1
*1/4Δ: C1/4 Δ = 2 • 50sin⁡(4 • 20) MO1/4 Δ = 50[1 − cos (4 • 20)]
= 8.72m = 0.19m

3 3
*3/8Δ: C3/8 Δ = 2 • 50sin⁡(8 • 20) MO3/8 Δ = 50[1 − cos (8 • 20)]
= 13.05m = 0.43m

1 1
*MC: C1/2 Δ = 2 • 50sin⁡(2 • 20) MO1/2 Δ = 50[1 − cos (2 • 20)]
= 17.365m = 0.76m
 3 3
*5/8Δ: C3/8 Δ = 2 • 50sin⁡(8 • 20) MO3/8 Δ = 50[1 − cos (8 • 20)]
= 13.05m = 0.43m

1 1
*3/4Δ: C1/4 Δ = 2 • 50sin⁡(4 • 20) MO1/4 Δ = 50[1 − cos (4 • 20)]
= 8.72m = 0.19m

1 1
*7/8Δ: C1/8 Δ = 2 • 50sin⁡(8 • 20) MO1/8 Δ = 50[1 − cos (8 • 20)]
= 4.36m = 0.048m

0 0
*EC: C0/8 Δ = 2 • 50sin⁡(8 • 20) MO0/8 Δ = 50[1 − cos (8 • 20)]
=0 =0

2nd Curve

0 0
*BC: C0/8 Δ = 2 • 30sin⁡(8 • 18) MO0/8 Δ = 30[1 − cos (8 • 18)]
=0 =0

1 1
*1/8Δ: C1/8 Δ = 2 • 30sin⁡(8 • 18) MO1/8 Δ = 30[1 − cos (8 • 18)]
= 2.36m = 0.02m

1 1
*1/4Δ: C1/4 Δ = 2 • 30sin⁡(4 • 18) MO1/4 Δ = 30[1 − cos (4 • 18)]
= 4.71m = 0.09m

3 3
*3/8Δ: C3/8 Δ = 2 • 30sin⁡(8 • 18) MO3/8 Δ = 30[1 − cos (8 • 18)]
= 7.05m = 0.21m

1 1
*MC: C1/2 Δ = 2 • 30sin⁡(2 • 18) MO1/2 Δ = 30[1 − cos (2 • 18)]
= 9.39m = 0.37m

3 3
*5/8Δ: C3/8 Δ = 2 • 30sin⁡(8 • 18) MO3/8 Δ = 30[1 − cos (8 • 18)]
= 7.05m = 0.21m

1 1
*3/4Δ: C1/4 Δ = 2 • 30sin⁡(4 • 18) MO1/4 Δ = 30[1 − cos (4 • 18)]
= 4.71m = 0.09m

1 1
*7/8Δ: C1/8 Δ = 2 • 30sin⁡(8 • 18) MO1/8 Δ = 30[1 − cos (8 • 18)]
= 2.36m = 0.02m

0 0
*EC: C0/8 Δ = 2 • 30sin⁡(8 • 18) MO0/8 Δ = 30[1 − cos (8 • 18)]
=0 =0
IX – CONCLUSION
We therefore conclude that in layouting a compound curve using chord and
mid ordinate your need to solve correctly for your to get the accurate
measurements of the curve.