SIMPLE CURVE

Example;

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 COMPOUND CURVE
Example;
The centre-line of a new railway is to be set out along a valley. The first straight PCPI bears 75◦,
whilst the connecting straight PIPT bears 120◦. Due to site conditions it has been decided to join
the straights with a compound curve. The first curve of 500 m radius commences at PC, situated
300 m from PI on straight PCPI, and deflects through an angle of 25◦ before joining the second
curve. Calculate the radius of the second curve and the distance of the tangent point PT from PI
on the straight PIPT.
∆ = 45◦, ∆1 = 25◦ ∴∆2 = 20◦
Tangent length PCK = Rs tan∆1/2 = 500 tan 12◦ 30_ = 110.8 m. In triangle KPIL:
Angle LPIK = 180◦ −∆ = 135◦
Length KPI = PCPI − PCK = 300 − 110.8 = 189.2 m

By sine rule:
KL = PIK sin LPIK / sin∆2
= 189.2 sin 135◦/sin 20◦
= 391.2 m
LPI = KPIsin∆1/ sin∆2
= 189.2 sin 25◦/sin 20◦
= 233.8 m
PCCL = KL – PCK = 391.2 − 110.8 = 280.4 m
280.4 = RL tan∆2/2 = RL tan 10◦; RL= 1590 m
Distance PIPT = PIL + LPT = 233.8 + 280.4
= 514.2m

TRANSITION CURVE

Example;

A road 10m wide is to deflect through an angle of 65° with the centre line radius 350 m, the
chainage of the intersection point being 1006 m. A Transition curve is to be used at each end of
the circular curve of such a length that the rate of gain of radial acceleration is 0.4 m 3/sec, when
the speed is 60 km/h. Find out

(a) Length of the transition curve

(b) Chainage of all junction points

(c) off-set at x = L/4, L/2, 3L/4 and L

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Solution:

Given, Deflection angle D = 65°

Radius of the circular curve, R = 350 m

Road width, B = 10 m

Chainage of I = 1006 m

Speed of vehicle, V = 60 kmph = 16.67 m sec-1

Radial acceleration, a = 0.4 m3/sec

Length of the transition curve L = = 33.07 m

= 0.13 m

Length of the tangent, IT = (R + S) tan +

= (350 + 0.13) tan + = 239.59 m

= 1006.00 - 239.59 = 766.41 m

Length of the composite curve,

Chainage of tangent T2 = Chainage of T1 + l

= 766.41 + 430.13 = 1196.54 m

Chainage of junction point, A = Chainage of T1+ L

= 766.41 + 33.07 = 799.48 m

Chainage of junction point, A = Chainage of T2- L

= 1196.54 - 33.07 = 1163.47 m

VERTICAL CURVE

Example;

A gradient of +1 percent (i.e., 1 in 100) meets a gradient of +4 percent (i.e., 1 in 25) at intersection
point I, the chainage and reduced level of which are 500 m and 261.30 m respectively. A 100 m long
vertical curve is to be inserted between the straights. Calculate the corrected grade elevations (i.e.,
levels on the curve) at 25 m intervals.

Step 1: Calculate the reduced levels of the initial tangent point T, the final tangent point T1 and the
intersection point I.

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 i. IT= IT1 = 100/2 = 50m
ii. Red. 1ev. I = 261.30 m’(given)
iii. Red. Level. T = Red. 1ev. I – 1 % of 50 = 261.30 – (0.01 x 50)
= 260.80 m
iv. Red. 1ev. T1 = Red. 1ev. I + 4 % of 50 = 261.30 + (0.04 x 50)

= 263.30m
Step 2: Calculate the tangent levels, i.e., the levels which would obtain on the left-hand gradient if it
were extended above or in this case below the right- hand gradient, towards the final tangent point.
Mathematically any tangent level is
Tangent 1evel = (reduced 1evevel T + bx)
Where b = left-hand gradient p percent
x = distance from T
Tangent 1evel at 25 m = red. 1ev. T + bx= 260.80 +1 percent of 25 m= 261.05
Tangent 1evel 50 m (I) = 260.80 +1 per cent of 50 m= 261.30
Tangent 1evel 75 m 260.80 +1 per cent of 75 m= 261.55
Tangent 1evel 100 m (E) = 260.80 m + 1 per cent of 100 m=261.80m

Step 3: Calculate the grade corrections at the required chainage points. The grade correction is the
value of ax2 which when added to or subtracted from the various tangent levels in Step 2 will give
the level on the curve.

The term x is, of course, the distance of the chainage point from the initial tangent point. The value
of 'a' is unknown and has to be found in order to calculate these grade corrections.

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 In the Fig. below the reduced levels of T1 and E are 263.30 and 261.80 respectively,

Therefore (red. 1ev.T1 – red. 1ev. E) = (263.30 — 261.80) = 1.50m. This value of 1.50 m is really the
grade correction at point E, i.e., the value which is applied to tangent level E to produce the curve
level T, therefore grade correction 1.50 m = ax2 (where x = 100m)
1.50m= a x 1002
Therefore a = 1.50 ⁄ 1002
a= 1.50 x 10-4
Value of ax2 at 25 m intervals from T:
Chainage ax2
25 m (1.50x 10-4) x 252 = 0.094 m
50 m (1.50 x 10-4) x 502 = 0.375 m
75m (1.50 x 10-4) x 752 = 0.844m
100 m (1.50 x 10-4) x 1002 =1.500 m
An alternative method of calculating 'a' exists. In above figure,

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The formula applies in all situations where 'a' is required. The proper sign convention for positive
and negative gradients p or q must of course be used.
In the example q = + 4%, p = + 1 %, and L = 100 m, therefore,

Step 4: Calculate the curve level at the various chainage points. The curve level at any point is the
algebraic addition of the tangent level (T + bx) and grade correction (ax2)
i.e. curve level = tangent level + grade correction
Therefore curve level 25 m = 261.05 + 0.094= 261.144m
Curve level 50 m = 261.30 + 0.375 = 261.675 m
Curve level 75 m = 261.55 + 0.844 = 262.394 m
Curve level l00m = 261.80 + 1.500 = 263.300 m
In all examples the calculations are performed in tabular fashion as below.

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Example 2:
A rising gradient of 1 in 40 is to be connected to a falling gradient of 1 in 75 by means of a vertical
parabolic curve 400 m in length. The reduced level of the intersection point of the gradients is 26.850
m above the selected Datum.
Calculate: (a) the reduced levels of the tangent points,
(b) The reduced levels at 50 m intervals along the curve.

(i) IT = IT1 = 400/2= 200 m

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 SIGHT DISTANCE
Example:
Two grades g1=+2% and g2=-3% are joined by a vertical curve. Calculate the lengths of vertical curves
required for the safe passing and safe stooping sight distances recommended by AASHTO for a design
speed of 40mph.

Solution:
Assume that the length f the curve is greater than the safe passing sight distance. Then

Ssp2 ( g1  g 2 ) 15002 (0.02  0.03)

Assume that the safe passing sight distance is greater than the length of the curve. Then
33.0 33.0
L  2Ssp   2 *1500   2340 ft
g1  g 2 0.02  0.03

Therefore, the length of the curve required for the safe passing sight distance is 3409ft since Ssp<L.
Assume that the safe stopping sight distance is less than the length of the vertical curve. Then

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Snp ( g1  g 2 ) 2752 (0.02  0.03
L   270 ft
14.0 14.0

Assume that the safe stopping sight distance is greater than the curve length. Then

14.0 14.0
L  2Snp   2 * 275   270 ft
g1  g 2 0.02  0.03

Therefore, the length of the curve required for the safe stopping sight distance is 270ft since Snp>L

With a highway with four or more traffic lanes, the safe stopping sight distance can be used to determine
the length of a vertical curve because there is little chance of meeting on-coming vehicles in the passing
lane. On a two-lane highway, however, the safe passing sight distance must be used if a vehicle is allowed
to pass another one traveling in the same direction on the vertical curve.

*****END*****

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