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Simple Curves

The document defines key terminologies used in simple curve design, including: - Point of curvature (PC), point of tangency (PT), and point of intersection (PI) - Radius (R), tangent length (T), chord length (L), curve length (Lc), and deflection angle (I) It also provides formulas to calculate values like tangent length, external distance, middle ordinate, chord length, curve length, degree of curve, and minimum radius of curvature based on the radius and central angle of the circular curve. The degree of curve defines the sharpness and is calculated differently for arc and chord definitions.

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1K views

Simple Curves

The document defines key terminologies used in simple curve design, including: - Point of curvature (PC), point of tangency (PT), and point of intersection (PI) - Radius (R), tangent length (T), chord length (L), curve length (Lc), and deflection angle (I) It also provides formulas to calculate values like tangent length, external distance, middle ordinate, chord length, curve length, degree of curve, and minimum radius of curvature based on the radius and central angle of the circular curve. The degree of curve defines the sharpness and is calculated differently for arc and chord definitions.

Uploaded by

Anonymous KUNMyMBEE
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Simple Curves

Terminologies in Simple Curve


 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 the figure is the midpoint of Lc.
 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
 D = Degree of curve. It is the central angle subtended by a length of curve equal to one
station. In English system, one station is equal to 100 ft and in SI, one station is equal
to 20 m.
 Sub chord = chord distance between two adjacent full stations.
Sharpness of circular curve
The smaller is the degree of curve, the flatter is the curve and vice versa. The sharpness
of simple curve is also determined by radius R. Large radius are flat whereas small
radius are sharp.

Formulas for Circular Curves


The formulas we are about to present need not be memorized. All we need is geometry
plus names of all elements in simple curve. Note that we are only dealing with circular
arc, it is in our great advantage if we deal it at geometry level rather than memorize
these formulas.

Length of tangent, T
Length of tangent (also referred to as subtangent) is the distance from PC to PI. It is the
same distance from PI to PT. From the right triangle PI-PT-O,
Tan 1I 2=T / R
T=R tan 1 I 2

External distance, E
External distance is the distance from PI to the midpoint of the curve. From the same
right triangle PI-PT-O,
Cos 1 I2=R / (R+E)
R+E=R/(cos 1I2)
E=(Rsec1I2)−R
Middle ordinate, m
Middle ordinate is the distance from the midpoint of the curve to the midpoint of the
chord. From right triangle O-Q-PT,
Cos 1I2=(R−m)/R
R cos 1I2=R−m
m=R−R cos 1I2

Length of long chord, L


Length of long chord or simply length of chord is the distance from PC to PT. Again,
from right triangle O-Q-PT,
Sin 1I2=(L/2)/R
Rsin1I2=L/2
L=2Rsin 1I2

Length of curve, Lc
Length of curve from PC to PT is the road distance between ends of the simple curve. By
ratio and proportion,
Lc / I=2πR360∘
Lc=πRI /180∘
An alternate formula for the length of curve is by ratio and proportion with its degree of
curve.
Lc / I=1station/D
Lc=(1station×I)/D
SI units: 1 station = 20 m
Lc=20 IID=20I / D
English system: 1 station = 100 ft
Lc=100 IID

If given the stationing of PC and PT


Lc=Stationing of PT− Stationing of PC
Degree of curve, D
The degree of curve is the central angle subtended by an arc (arc basis) or chord (chord
basis) of one station. It will define the sharpness of the curve. In English system, 1
station is equal to 100 ft. In SI, 1 station is equal to 20 m. It is important to note that 100
ft is equal to 30.48 m not 20 m.

Arc Basis
In arc definition, the degree of curve is the central angle angle subtended by one
station of circular arc. This definition is used in highways. Using ratio and
proportion,

1station/D=2Πr/360∘
SI units (1 station = 20 m):
20/D=2πR/360∘

English system (1 station = 100 ft):


100/D=2πR/360∘

Chord Basis
Chord definition is used in railway design. The degree of curve is the central angle
subtended by one station length of chord. From the dotted right triangle below,
sinD/2=halfstation/ R
SI units (half station = 10 m):
sinD/2=10/R

English system (half station = 50 ft):


SinD/2=50/R

Minimum Radius of Curvature


Vehicle traveling on a horizontal curve may either skid or overturn off the road due
to centrifugal force. Side friction f and superelevation e are the factors that will
stabilize this force. The superelevation e = tan θ and the friction factor f = tan
ϕ. The minimum radius of curve so that the vehicle can round the curve without
skidding is determined as follows.
Radius of curvature with R in meter and v in meter per second

For the above formula, v must be in meter per second (m/s) and R in meter (m).
For v in kilometer per hour (kph) and R in meter, the following convenient
formula is being used.
Radius of curvature with R in meter and v in kilometer per hour

Using the above formula, R must be in meter (m) and v in kilometer per hour
(kph).

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