CHAPTER – 1

ENGINEERING
CURVES
USES OF ENGINEERING CURVES

Useful by their nature & characteristics.

Laws of nature represented on graph.

Useful in engineering in understanding

laws, manufacturing of various items,
designing mechanisms analysis of forces,
construction of bridges, dams, water
tanks etc.
Be it an arc
Be it an arch in construction in civil engineering
Be it an any spring in mechanical engineering
Be it any component of electronics and computer
engineering component
Measuring the distance
On the map
For navigation
In space technology
CLASSIFICATION OF ENGG. CURVES

1. CONICS
2. CYCLOIDAL CURVES

3. INVOLUTE

4. SPIRAL

5. HELIX

6. SINE & COSINE

What is Cone ?
It is a surface generated by moving a
Straight line keeping one of its end fixed &
other end makes a closed curve.
The fixed point is known as vertex or apex.
The closed curve is Vertex/Apex
known as base.
If the base/closed curve is
a circle, we get a cone.
90º
If the base/closed
curve is a polygon, we
get a pyramid. Base
The line joins apex to the center of base is called
axis.
If axes is perpendicular to base, it is called as
right circular cone.

If axis of cone is not Vertex/Apex

perpendicular to base, it is Cone Axis
called as oblique cone. Generator

The line joins vertex/

90º
apex to the circumference
of a cone is known as
generator. Base
 CONICS
Definition :- The section obtained by the
intersection of a right circular cone by a
cutting plane in different position relative
to the axis of the cone are called CONICS.
 CONICS

A - TRIANGLE

B - CIRCLE

C - ELLIPSE

D – PARABOLA

E - HYPERBOLA
 TRIANGLE
When the cutting plane contains the
apex, we get a triangle as the section on
the surface of the cone.
 CIRCLE
When the cutting plane is perpendicular to
the axis or parallel to the base in a right cone
we get circle as the section on the surface of
the cone.
Sec Plane

Circle
Definition :-
ELLIPSE
When the cutting plane is inclined to the axis
but not parallel to generator or the
inclination of the cutting plane(α) is greater
than the semi cone angle(θ), we get an ellipse
as the section on the surface of the cone.
θ
α>θ
α
 PARABOLA
When the cutting plane is inclined to the axis
and parallel to one of the generators of the cone
or the inclination of the plane(α) is equal to semi
cone angle(θ), we get a parabola as the section.

θ
α=θ
α
 HYPERBOLA
Definition :-
When the cutting plane is parallel to the
axis or the inclination of the plane with
cone axis(α) is less than semi cone angle(θ),
we get a hyperbola as the section.
α=0
α<θ θ
θ
 CONICS
Definition :- The locus of point moves in a
plane such a way that the ratio of its
distance from fixed point (focus) to a fixed
Straight line (Directrix) is always constant.
Conic Curve
M P
Directrix
F
C
V
Focus

Fixed straight line is called as directrix.

Fixed point is called as focus.
 The line passing through focus &
perpendicular to directrix is called as axis.

The intersection of conic curve with axis is

called as vertex.

Conic Curve
M P Axis
Directrix
F
C
V
Vertex Focus
 Conic Curve
M P Axis
Directrix
F
C
V
Vertex Focus
N Q

Distance of a point from focus

Ratio =
Distance of a point from directrix
= Eccentricity
= PF/PM = QF/QN = VF/VC =
e
 ELLIPSE
Ellipse is the locus of a point which moves in a
plane so that the ratio of its distance from a
fixed point (focus) and a fixed straight line
(Directrix) is a constant and less than one.

P Ellipse
M Axis
Directrix
Vertex F
C V
Focus Eccentricity=PF/PM
N
Q = QF/QN
< 1.
 ELLIPSE
Ellipse is the locus of a point, which moves in a
plane so that the sum of its distance from two
fixed points, called focal points or foci, is a
constant. The sum of distances is equal to the
major axis of the ellipse.
C
P

O
A B
F1 F2

Q D
 P C

CF1 +CF2 = AB

A
O
B but CF1 = CF2
F1 F2
hence, CF1=1/2AB

Q D
PF1 + PF2 = QF1 + QF2 = CF1 +CF2 = constant
= F1A + F1B = F2A + F2B
But F1A = F2B

F1A + F1B = F2B + F1B = AB

= Major Axis
 C
Major Axis = 100 mm
Minor Axis = 60 mm
O
A B
F1 F2 CF1 = ½ AB = AO

D
C
Major Axis = 100 mm
F1F2 = 60 mm
O
A B CF1 = ½ AB = AO
F1 F2

D
APPLICATION :-
Shape of a man-hole.
Shape of tank in a tanker.

Flanges of pipes, glands and stuffing boxes.

Shape used in bridges and arches.

Monuments.

Path of earth around the sun.

Shape of trays etc.

 PARABOLA
Definition :-
The parabola is the locus of a point, which moves
in a plane so that its distance from a fixed point
(focus) and a fixed straight line (directrix) are
always equal.
Ratio (known as eccentricity) of its distances
from focus to that of directrix is constant and
equal to one (1). P Parabola
M
Directrix
Axis
Vertex F
C V
Eccentricity = PF/PM Focus
= QF/QN N Q
= 1.
 Uses :-
Motor car head lamp reflector.

Sound reflector and detector.

Bridges and arches construction

Shape of cooling towers.

Path of particle thrown at any angle with earth,

etc.

Home
 HYPERBOLA
It is the locus of a point which moves in a
plane so that the ratio of its distances from
a fixed point (focus) and a fixed straight
line (directrix) is constant and grater than
one.
P
Hyperbola
M Axis
Directrix
F
C
V
Vertex Focus Eccentricity = PF/PM
N = QF/QN
Q
> 1.
Uses :-

Nature of graph of Boyle’s law

Shape of overhead water tanks

Shape of cooling towers etc.

 METHODS FOR DRAWING ELLIPSE
1. Arc of Circle’s Method
2. Concentric Circle Method
3. Loop Method
4. Oblong Method
5. Ellipse in Parallelogram
6. Trammel Method
7. Parallel Ellipse
8. Directrix Focus Method
ARC OF CIRCLE’S P4 C
METHOD P4
P3 P3
P2 P2
P1 P1

F1 O F2
A B
1 2 3 4

P1’  P1’
P2’ P2’
90° P3’ P3’
P4’ D P4’
CONCENTRIC 11
10
9
CIRCLE
METHOD
12
CP10 8
P11 P9
N 11
10
9
P12 P8
T 12 8
Q P1 Major Axis P7
1 7
A F1 1 O 7 F2 B
6 P6
P2` 2
3 5
P3 4 P5
2 DP4 6
e = AF1/AQ

CF1=CF2=1/2 AB 3 5
4
 OBLONG METHOD

P4 C P4’
E 4 P3 P3’ 4’
Directrix

Minor Axis
3 3’
P2 P2’
2 S 2’
P1 P1’
1 1’
0 P0 Major Axis 0’
A 1 F1 2 3 4 4’ 3’ 2’ F2 1’ B
P1 P1’’

P2 P2’’
P
P3 P3’’
F P4 P4’’
D
 ELLIPSE IN PARALLELOGRAM

0 H C
P1 P Q1 0
1 P2 1
2 P 0 Q2 K
Q3 2
3 P 3 Q4 3
4
4 Q5 4
5P
AP6 5 Q6 B5
6 5 4 3 2 1 0O 1 2 3 4 5 6
S4 R4
J S3 R3
G
60° S2 R2
S1 I
R1
D
 ELLIPSE – DIRECTRIX FOCUS METHOD
g
f  < 45º
Ellipse e
d
D1

c Eccentricity = 2/3
b P P5
P6 P7
a P3 4
Directrix

Q P1P2 QV1 V1F1 2

= =
R1V1 R1V1 3

R1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
V1 F1
Dist. Between directrix
90° & focus = 50 mm
P1’
T P2’ 1 part = 50/(2+3)=10
P3’P ’
4 P5’ P ’ P ’ mm
6 V1F1 = 2 part = 20 mm
S 7
D1

T V R = 3 part = 30 mm
1 1
METHODS FOR DRAWING PARABOLA

1. Rectangle Method

2. Parabola in Parallelogram

3. Tangent Method

4. Directrix Focus Method

 PARABOLA –RECTANGLE METHOD
D V C
0 P P 0
P 1 1 P PARABOLA
1 2 2 1
P P
3 3
2 2
P P
3 4 4 3

4 P P 4
5 5

5 5
P P
66 A 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 B6
6
PARABOLA – IN PARALLELOGRAM
C
0
1’
2’
P’
1 P’
2
P’
3
P1 3’
P’
4
4’
P2 P’
5
5’
D P3 P’
6
0 B
1 P4
2
3 P
5
4
5
P6 30°
6
A X
 PARABOLA 10 0
TANGENT METHOD
9 1
8 2
7 3
6 4
5 V
5
4 6
F
3 7
2 8
1  9
0 1
A O B0
D PARABOLA
DIRECTRIX FOCUS METHOD
P4
P
P2 3

PF
P1

AXIS
R V 1 F 2
90° 3 4
T 90°
N
P1’
PF’ S
P2’
P3’
P4’

N T
D
PROBLEM:-
A stone is thrown from a building 6 m
high. It just crosses the top of a palm
tree 12 m high. Trace the path of the
projectile if the horizontal distance
between the building and the palm
tree is 3 m. Also find the distance of
the point from the building where the
stone falls on the ground.
 TOP OF TREE
6m

BUILDING

A
6m

STONE FALLS HERE

ROOT OF TREE

F 3m

REQD.DISTANCE
 TOP OF TREE
D P C
P1 P1
1 P2 P2 1
6m

2 2
P3 P3
BUILDING 3 3
A P4 0 P4 B
3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6
5
6m

6 P5
STONE FALLS HERE
ROOT OF TREE

F 3m 3m E GROUND
P6
REQD.DISTANCE
EXAMPLE
A shot is discharge from the ground level
at an angle 60 to the horizontal at a point
80m away from the point of discharge.
Draw the path trace by the shot. Use a
scale 1:100
 parabola

gun
shot
60º

A ground level B
80 M
 VF 10 0
VE = e=1
9 1
8 2
D 7 E 3 D

6 4
5 V
5
4 6
F
3 7
2 8
gun 
shot 1 9
60º
0 1
A groundOlevel B0
 CYCLOIDAL GROUP OF CURVES

Cycloidal Curves

Cycloid Epy Cycloid Hypo Cycloid

Inferior Superior Inferior Superior

Trochoid Trochoid Hypotrochoi Hypotrochoid
d

Inferior Superior
Epytrochoi Epytrochoi
d d
CYCLOID:-
Cycloid is a locus of a point on the circumference of
a rolling circle(generator), which rolls without
slipping or sliding along a fixed straight line or a
directing line or a director.

Rolling Circle or Generator

P
R

C C

P P
Directing Line or Director
 EPICYCLOID:-
Epicycloid is a locus of a point(P) on the circumference
of a rolling circle(generator), which rolls without slipping or
sliding OUTSIDE another circle called Directing Circle.
P0

Rolling
Circle

r
P0 P0
Ø/2 Ø/2

Rd x Ø = 2πr O
Circumference of
Ø = 360º x r/Rd Arc P0P0 =
Generating Circle
HYPOCYCLOID:-
Hypocycloid is a locus of a point(P) on the circumference of a
rolling circle(generator), which rolls without slipping or sliding
INSIDE another circle called Directing
Vertical Circle.`

Rolling Circle Directing

Radius (r) Circle(R)

P P
T

Ø /2 Ø /2

O 360 x r
R Hypocycloi Ø= R
What is TROCHOID ?
DEFINITION :- It is a locus of a point
inside/outside the circumference of a rolling
circle, which rolls without slipping or sliding
along a fixed straight line or a fixed circle.

If the point is inside the circumference of the circle,

it is called inferior trochoid.
If the point is outside the circumference of the
circle, it is called superior trochoid.
 : Given Data :
Draw cycloid for one revolution of a rolling circle having
diameter as 60mm.

Rolling
D
Circle
6 P6
7 5 P5 P7
8 4 P4 R
P8
R P9
P3
9 C0 C1 3C2 C3 C4S C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12
1
P2 R
2 P10
10 P1 P11
11 12 0 1
P0 0 1 2 3 4 N5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12P12
Directing Line
2R or D
Problem : 2
A circle of 25 mm radius rolls on the
circumference of another circle of 150 mm
diameter and outside it. Draw the locus of
the point P on the circumference of the
rolling circle for one complete revolution of
it. Name the curve & draw tangent and normal
to the curve at a point 115 mm from the
centre of the bigger circle.
First Step : Find out the included angle  by
using the equation
360º x r / R = 360 x 25/75 = 120º.
Second step: Draw a vertical line & draw two
lines at 60º on either sides.
Third step : at a distance of 75 mm from O,
draw a part of the circle taking radius = 75 mm.

Fourth step : From the circle, mark point C

outside the circle at distance of 25 mm & draw
a circle taking the centre as point C.
 GIVEN: EPICYCLOID
Rad. Of Gen. Circle (r)
P4
& Rad. Of dir. Circle (Rd)
S
P3 º P5
Rolling r U r
Circle C3 C4 C5
3 P22 C2 C6 P6
C N C7
4 1
r

1
r CP
0
1
P C8
5 0 P8 P7
0
6 7 Ø/2 Ø/2

O
Ø = 360º x 25/75 Arc P0P8 = Circumference of
 = 120° Generating Circle
Rd X Ø = 2πr
Ø = 360º x r/Rd
Problem :3
A circle of 80 mm diameter rolls on the
circumference of another circle of 120 mm
radius and inside it. Draw the locus of the
point P on the circumference of the rolling
circle for one complete revolution of it.
Name the curve & draw tangent and normal
to the curve at a point 100 mm from the
centre of the bigger circle.
 Directing
Circle Vertical
Rolling N
Circle
Radias (r)
C5 C6 C7 C
C4 8
2 C3 C9
1 C2 3 C10
P0 0P1 P P P12
C1 4 C1 P1 11 T
1 P3 P
P8 1 9
2 C0 P P5 P6 P7 S 0
2 4
C12
1 5
T
1 N
10 6  
9 7 /2 /2
8
R O  = 360 x r
R
Hypocycloi  =36012x 4
 = 120°
 INVOLUTE
DEFINITION :- If a straight line is rolles
round a circle or a polygon without slipping or
sliding, the locus of points on the straight line
is an INVOLUTES to the curve.

OR
Involute of a circle is a curve traced out by a
point on a tights string unwound or wound from
or on the surface of the circle.

Uses :- Gears profile

PROBLEM:
A string is unwound from a
circle of 20 mm diameter. Draw the
locus of string P for unwinding the
string’s one turn. String is kept tight
during unwound. Draw tangent &
normal to the curve at any point.
 P9
P8 P10

P7
P11

P6 5 67
4
3 .
8
2 9
P5 1 10
01211N P12
P4 P01 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1112
P3 P2 D
PROBLEM:-
Trace the path of end point of a thread
when it is wound round a circle, the length of
which is less than the circumference of the
circle.

Say Radius of a circle = 21 mm &

Length of the thread = 100 mm
Circumference of the circle = 2 π r
= 2 x π x 21 = 132 mm

So, the length of the string is less than

circumference of the circle.
Ø = 30° x 5 /11 = 13.64 ° 11 mm = 30°
Then 5 mm = 
P3
P4 P2 INVOLUTE

R=3toP
P5

R=6toP P1
P6
6 5
7
P7 4
P8 8ø
P 3
9 0
2
10
11 0 1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 P 9
S = 2 x π x r /12
L= 100 mm
PROBLEM:-
Trace the path of end point of a thread
when it is wound round a circle, the length of
which is more than the circumference of the
circle.

Say Radius of a circle = 21 mm &

Length of the thread = 160 mm
Circumference of the circle = 2 π r
= 2 x π x 21 = 132 mm

So, the length of the string is more than

circumference of the circle.
 P4 P3
P2

P5
P1

P6
6 5
7 4
8 3 15
9 O ø2PP14
R=21mm 10
11 113 P13
14
P0
P7 12 1 2P 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 1415
12
P11 L=160 mm
P8 P9 P10
PROBLEM:-
Draw an involute of a pantagon having
side as 20 mm.
 INVOLUTE P
3
OF A POLYGON P
2

Given : 3
2
1
Side of a polygon P 4 50 P
P 1
4
0

P
5
PROBLEM:-

Draw an involute of a square

having side as 20 mm.

 INVOLUTE OF A SQUARE
P1

P0
0
1 4 P4

2 3
P2

P3
PROBLEM:-

Draw an involute of a string unwound

from the given figure from point C in
anticlockwise direction.
B

C 60°

30°

A
C8

C7

B X+AB
5 C6
C 60° 4
3
30°
2
C0 X 1
A
C5
X+A3
C1

C2 C4
C3
 SPIRALS
If a line rotates in a plane about one of its
ends and if at the same time, a point moves
along the line continuously in one direction,
the curves traced out by the moving point is
called a SPIRAL.

The point about which the line rotates is

called a POLE.

The line joining any point on the curve with

the pole is called the RADIUS VECTOR.
The angle between the radius vector and the line
in its initial position is called the VECTORIAL
ANGLE.
Each complete revolution of the curve is
termed as CONVOLUTION.
Spiral

Arche Median Spiral for Clock

Semicircle Quarter
Circle
Logarithmic
ARCHEMEDIAN SPIRAL
It is a curve traced out by a point
moving in such a way that its
movement towards or away from the
pole is uniform with the increase of
vectorial angle from the starting line.
USES :-
Teeth profile of Helical gears.
Profiles of cams etc.
 PROBLEM:
To construct an Archemedian Spiral of
one convolutions, given the radial
movement of the point P during one
convolution as 60 mm and the initial
position of P is the farthest point on the
line or free end of the line.

Greatest radius = 60 mm &

Shortest radius = 00 mm ( at centre or at pole)
 3
4 2
P3 P2

P4
5 P1 1

P5

6
o 0
P6 P1212 11
P11 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 012
P10
P7 P9
P8

7 11

8 10
9
To construct an Archemedian
Spiral of one convolutions, given
the greatest & shortest(least)
radii.
OR
To construct an Archemedian
Spiral of one convolutions, given
the largest radius vector &
smallest radius vector.
Say Greatest radius = 100 mm &
Shortest radius = 60 mm
 Diff. in length of any two radius vectors
Constant of the curve =
Angle between them in radians
3
2 OP – OP3
4 P3 =
P2 Π/2
P4
5 P11 100 – 90
P5 =
Π/2
P12 18 64 2
6 P O 110
9 7 5 3 1 12
= 6.37 mm
6
P1
1
P7 P1 11
7
P8 P9 0

8 10
9
PROBLEM:-

A link OA, 100 mm long rotates about O in

clockwise direction. A point P on the link,
initially at A, moves and reaches the other end
O, while the link has rotated thorough 2/3 rd of
the revolution. Assuming the movement of the
link and the point to be uniform, trace the path
of the point P.
 PO Initial Position of point P
2/3 X 360° A
1 1
= 240° 2 P1
3
4 2
5 P2
6
120ºP7 8
O P3 3
P7

P6 P4
P5

8 4

7 5
6
PROBLEM :
A monkey at 20 m slides down from a
rope. It swings 30° either sides of
rope initially at vertical position. The
monkey initially at top reaches at
bottom, when the rope swings about
two complete oscillations. Draw the
path of the monkey sliding down
assuming motion of the monkey and
the rope as uniform.
 o
1
P3
2
θ 3
4
5
6
7 P9
8
9
10
11
P15 12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
3 21 9
22 21
15 23
2 24 8
4 1 0 7 10
14 5 6 11 20
16 1317 181224 1923 22
http://www.engineering108.com/pages/Engineeri
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A text book of engineering graphics- Prof. P.J
SHAH
Engineering Drawing-N.D.Bhatt
Engineering Drawing-P.S.Gill
Thank You