New Era University

College of Engineering and Architecture

Civil Engineering Department

ENGINEERING SURVEY (CE 222F-18)

FIELDWORK No. 4

DESIGN AND LAYOUT OF COMPOUND CURVE

RATING

NAME: DATE PERFORMED:

SCHEDULE: LOCATION: DATE SUBMITTED:

__________________________________
Instructor

Fieldwork No 4 2nd Semester 2023-2024 1

 DESIGN AND LAYOUT OF COMPOUND CURVE

OBJECTIVES
4
1. To construct the geometric design features of the compound curve connected from two known
points with tangents of known directions.
2. To determine the elements of the compound curve.
3. To layout the compound curve using the deflection angles and chord distances.

THEORY
The compound curve as shown in Figure 4.1, is
another type of horizontal curve which consist of two
simple curves having different radius but whose centers
lie on the same side of the curve. Likewise, any two
consecutive curves must have a common tangent at their
meeting point. It is usually constructed wherein a simple
curve cannot meet the required transition distance along
the highway curve.
Compound curve radii (R1 and R2) should be taken
into consideration in the design especially along restricted
right-of-way and rugged topography. AASHTO suggests
that the radius of the flatter curve (R1) should not be more
than one half (50%) greater that the radius of the sharper
curve (R2), that is, R1/R2 < 1.50.
Figure 4.1 Compound curve connecting a rural
arterial highway in McArthur Highway, Baguio City

Shown in figure 4.2 are the elements of the compound curve. where:
R1= radius of larger curve
I1 = central angle
D1= degree of the curve

R2= radius of smaller curve

I2 = central angle
D2= degree of the curve

IC = I1 + I2 common central angle

LCU= length of reverse curve

LLC= length of long chord
TC= T1 + T2 Common tangent
P.C.C.= pt. of compound curve

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INSTRUMENTS
1 Stadia Rod 1 Mechanical Pen
1 Transit with Tripod 2 Drawing Compass 1 Technical Pen
1 Steel Tape 1 Triangular Scale (0.2 & 0.6 mm)
1 set Marking Pins

Procedure
A. Curve connected from known points with tangents of known directions.
1. From the preliminary lines, select the best possible route for the proposed compound curve. Connect
two terminal points A and B (sta. P.C and sta. P.T.) with straight line to establish the long chord AB.
2. Project the directions of the existing lines form A and B until it meets at a certain pt. C (sta. P.I.),
which deflects an angle equal to the central angle (IC) of the curve.
3. When you choose the long chord parallel to the common tangent line V1V2 as shown in Figure 4.3,
move the location of the common tangent line up or down such that its length will approximately
equal to the sum of the distances from V1 to A (left tangent distance) and distance from V2 and B
(right tangent distances). Move the location of the common tangent V1V2 up or down until the left &
right tangent distance meet at point F (sta. P.C.C.)
4. If you choose the common tangent and the long chord not parallel to each other such as in Figure 4.4
then move the position of one of the arc vertices (V1 or V2). Do this until its length will exactly equal
to the sum of the distances from V1 to A (left tangent distance) and distance V2 and B (right tangent
distance). This will produce the meeting point F connected by left and right tangent distances.
5. Erect perpendicular lines from F as follows with pts A and B. The points of intersections among these
perpendicular lines, which form two simple curves, with the centers (O1 and O2) for the left curve AF
& right curve FB, respectively.
6. Draw the two curves using the compass. Use of the triangular scale, measure the left and right radii
(R1 and R2) as well as the central angles (I1) and (I2) measured up to 0.5° accuracy.
7. Determine the other elements of the compound curve and layout the curve by deflection angles for
each full station mark. Tabulate the layout results.

Figure 4.3 – Compound Curve with Parallel Figure 4.4 – Compound Curve with Unparallel
Long Chord and Common Tangent. Long Chord and Common Tangent.

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 B. Field Layout of the Curve
1. From the field, set up the transit at sta. PC, and then level the instruments by leveling the plate
bubbles using the lower and upper clamp adjusters.
2. To establish the first curve station, set the horizontal reading of the transit at the zero vernier.
Locate station P.I. and then sight individual stationing by deflection angles along the back tangent.
Sight station P.I. with the telescope normal or at zero vernier. Tighten lower clamp and adjust with
upper tangent screw to locate the sta. P.I.
3. Open upper clamp and set on the vernier on the first deflection angle and stake marking pins to
mark the located station. Sight the next deflection angle p to station P.C.C. with its corresponding
arc or chord distances. Using the last point as the first station, measure 20m or any offset distance
(depending on the sharpness of the curve) until the line of sight of the preceding station is
intersected.
4. Repeat the same process of locating succeeding stations as stated above until the required
stationing are laid out and properly marked on the ground. Do this process until P.C.C. is fixed.
Be careful to set succeeding total deflection angles on the vernier of the instrument.
5. Set-up the instrument at station P.C.C. and do the same procedure done in laying out the other
simple curve. This time is from P.C.C. to sta. P.T.

COMPUTATIONS
1. The common central angle (IC) between the
intersections of the two tangent grades (back and
forward) at P.I. is equal to the sum of the left and
right central angles (I1 and I2) of the two arcs in the
compound curve.
2. Left tangent distance (T1) from P.C. to V1 of the
left arc and right tangent distance (T2) from V2 to
PT, and the common tangent (TC) of the curve can
be computed from the following formulas on the
right.
3. Length of the long curve (LCU) is the distance form
PC to PT and pass thru PCC along the curve by arc
definition. It is the sum of the arc lengths of the left BASIC FORMULAS FOR COMPOUND CURVE
and right curve.
4. Intermediate distance (p) between V1 and PI with IC= I1 + I2
the distance (q) between the V2 and P.I. can be 𝐼 𝐼
T1= R1 tan( 1⁄2) T2= R2 tan( 2⁄2)
determined using sine law form ∆V1- PI-V2. Interior
angle at the P.I. (180-IC) and the common tangent TC = T 1 + T 2
(TC) are included. LCU1= R1I1(𝜋⁄180) LCU2= R2I2(𝜋⁄180)
5. Long and short tangent distances measured from PC
to PT (T1) and from PI to PT (TS) on the curve can LCU= LCU1 + LCU2
be determined from their respective tangent 𝑝 𝑇𝐶 𝑞
= =
distances (T1 and T2). sin 𝐼2 sin(180° − 𝐼𝐶 ) sin 𝐼1
6. The length of the long chord (LC) is the straight line
TL= T1 + p TS= T2 + q
joining P.C. and P.T., which can be computed using
the cosine law isolating ∆PC-PI-PT. LC=√(𝑇𝐿 )2 + (𝑇𝑆 )2 − 2(𝑇𝐿 )(𝑇𝑆 ) cos(180° − 𝐼𝐶 )

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SKECTH OF THE SET-UP
(NOTE: Draw the scaled map of the entire area having all elements of compound curve)

Fieldwork No 4 2nd Semester 2023-2024 5

 NAME: DATE PERFORMED:

SCHEDULE: LOCATION DATE SUBMITTED:

PRELIMINARY DATA SHEET

FIELDWORK No. 4
Design and Layout of Compound Curve
I. Elements of the Compound Curve
Central Angle 1 (I1) Station P.I. 4 + 632
Radius 1 (R1) Station P.C.
Central Angle 2 (I2) Length of curve 1 (Lcu1) =
Radius 2 (R2) Station PCC
Tangent of 1st curve (t1) Length of curve 2 (Lcu2) =
Tangent of 2nd curve (t2) Station P.T.
Common Tangent T Chord 1=
Sub-tangent GV Chord 2=
Back Tangent T1 LC= Long Chord =

II . Layout by Chord-Deflection Method and Tangent Offset Method

Interior Chord Length Distance along
Angle Deflection of chord C tangent Tangent offset
Point y =Csin(θ/2)
Angle x =Ccos(θ/2)
C =2Rsin(θ/2) 𝜃
(θ/2) 𝑥 = 𝑅𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝜃) 𝑦 = 2𝑅𝑠𝑖𝑛2 ( )
θ 2
0
1
Curve 1

2
3
4
5
6
Curve 2

7
8

9
Note: (Compute the elements and draw the final route on separate sheet of paper)

Checked by:

______________________________________
Instructor

Fieldwork No 4 2nd Semester 2023-2024 6

 QUESTIONS
1. Give at least three roads of highways in your vicinity that are connected by compound curve.
Sketch the curve with its corresponding intersecting streets, existing landmarks, etc.

2. If a negative control is located at sta. P.C.C., how would you layout the compound curve in the
field? Explain your answer with accompanying labeled figure.

3. Enumerate factors that should be considered in designing the compound curve alignment of a
highway. Give short or briefs notes on each factor considered.

PROBLEMS
1. One of the major roads in Polaris, Tandang Sora is connected by compound curve having 370m
long chord length and the angles that it makes with its corresponding tangents of the curve are 60°
and 40°, respectively. Design and layout the compound curve when the common tangent is parallel
to the common long chord and the vertex is at sta. 1+260m. Layout the curve by deflection angle
(arc basis).
2. What is the stationing of P.T. by arc and chord definitions if the compound curve has degree of
curvatures equal to 5° and 6°, respectively? The central angle of the angle of the larger curve is
twice as the smaller curve and the sta. P.C.C. is @ 1+465.00m and the tangent distance of the
smaller curve is 76.76.0m.

Fieldwork No 4 2nd Semester 2023-2024 7