Horizontal Curves
Horizontal Curves
Horizontal Curves
The horizontal alignment consists of straight sections of the roads, known as tangents,
connected by horizontal curves. The curves usually segments of circles. Horizontal curves
are usually used to change the alignment direction
Horizontal curves
Types of horizontal curves
∆rad=
∆ is the deflection angle between the two tangents, R is the radius of the circular curve.
∆
Length of the long chord C= 2R sin
Example: station calculations
Δ = 55
R = 1000m station P.I (station of the point of intersection of the two tangents) =20+00
find station P.C (first tangent point), P.T (last tangent point)
Offset Y=R-√
R R-y
X(m) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70.02
Offset 0 0.50 2.02
y(m)
b-offset from the long chord a
ab=y+k y
y=ab-k c/2 x
example :
Find the length of offsets from the long chord at distances of 10m
R=90m, ∆=50°
x 0 10 20 30 33.81
Offset y 7.50 6.87 4.96 1.66 0.00
R1
R2
Reverse curves
Reverse curves usually consist of two simple curves ( with equal or unequal radii )turning
in opposite direction with a common tangent. Their centers lie on opposite sides of the
curve. They are generally used to change the alignment of the highway .
I1
50°
I2 50°
Equal radius reverse curve , Common tangent I1-I2 =700m ,∆1=40° ∆2=40°
150m
I2
curves or be radii.