Circular curves - types

Simple circular curves

R R

Compound curves
R2 R1

Reverse curves R2
R1

R1
R2
 PROCEDURE SETTING OUT
Circular curves may be set out in a variety of ways, depending on the accuracy
required, its radius of curvature and obstructions on site.

Methods of setting out are as follows:

Using one theodolite and a tape by the tangent angle method. This method can be
used on all curves, but is necessary for long curves of radius unless they are set out
by coordinates.

Using two theodolites. This method can be used on smaller curves where the
whole length is visible from both tangent points and where two instruments are
available.

Using tapes only by the method of offsets from the tangent. This method is used
for minor curves only.

Using tapes only by the method of offsets from the long chord. This method is used
for short radius curves.
 OFFSET FROM TANGENT LINE
Given IP

Radius, R 600m
)
Tangent line
Y2 X2
Deflection 18024' X1
Y1
angle , T1

Offset 20m circular arc T2

Chainage 2140m
intersection
point, I

formula X R R 2
Y 2 Draw the table from the formula:

Ofset R R2 Y2 R2-Y2
R 2
Y 2
X R R Y 2 2

PROCEDURE
Tangent length
= 600 tan (18 24 /2) = 97.20m

Chainage T1 = chainage I tangent length

= 2140.00 - 97.20 = 2042.80m

Arc length =2 xRx

360
= 2 x 600 x 18o = 192.68m
360

Chainage T2 = chainage T1 + arc length

= 2042.80 + 192.68 = 2235.48m
Ofset R R2 Y2 R2-Y2
R 2
Y 2
X R R Y 2 2

(1) (2) (3) = (2)2 (4) = (1)2 (5) = (3) (4) (7) = (2) (6)
360000 0 = = 600 600 =
0 02 = 0
360000 600.000 0.000
360000 40= = 600 599.667 =
20 202 = 40
359600 599.667 0.333
360000 1600 = = 600 598.665 =
40 402 = 1600
6002 = 358400 598.665 1.335
600
360000
60 3600 356400 596.992 3.008

80 6400 353600 594.643 5.357

97.20 9447.84 350969.109 592.426 7.574

 OFFSET FROM LONG CHORD LINE
Given
Radius, R 600m
Deflection 18024'
angle ,
Offset 20m
Chainage 2140m
intersection
point, I

formula Draw the table from the formula:

X R Y 2 2
R 2
(W / 2) 2

Ofset R R2 Y2 R2-Y2 R Y
2 2
R (W / 2)
2 2
X R Y
2 2
R (W / 2)
2 2

Long chord length

PROCEDURE
= 2 x 600 sin (18 24 /2) w = 191.857m w/2
/ = 95.929 m

Tangent length
= 600 tan (18 24 /2) = 97.20m

Chainage T1 = chainage I tangent length

= 2140.00 - 97.20 = 2042.80m

Arc length =2 xRx

360
= 2 x 600 x 18o = 192.68m
360

Chainage T2 = chainage T1 + arc length

= 2042.80 + 192.68 = 2235.48m

Ofset R R2 Y2 R2-Y2 R 2
Y 2 w/2 2 R (w / 2)
2 2
x
(1) (2) (3) = (2)2 (4) = (1)2 (5) = (3) (4) (7) (7) (9) =(6) (8)

0 360000 -0 = = 600 - 692.282

02 = 0
360000 600.000 = 7.785
599.667
20 360000 40 = =
202 = 40 592.282 =
359600 599.667
7.385
(360000
40 6002 = 402 = 1600 358400 598.665 95.9292 = 6.383
600 9202.277)=
360000 9202.277
592.282
60 3600 356400 596.992 4.710

80 6400 353600 594.643 2.361

95.929 9202.277 350797.723 592.282 0.000

 DEFLECTION ANGLE METHOD
Radius, R 600m
Deflection
Given angle 18024'
,
Offset 20m
Chainage 2140m
intersection
point, I
Draw the table form for
formula deflection angle method
1718.9 x C
Stn. Chainage Chord Deflection Setting out
60 R
1 (deg ree )

length angle, angle,

(0 ) (0 )
1718.9 x C
R
1 (min ute )

Tangent length
= 600 tan (18 24 /2) = 97.20m
PROCEDURE
1718.9 x 17.179
Chainage T1 = chainage I tangent length
= 2140.00 - 97.20 = 2042.80m 60 x600
Arc length =Rx x2 1718.9 x 20.000
360
= 600 x 18o 2 = 192.684m 60 x600
360
1718.9 x 15.506
Chainage T2 = chainage T1 + arc length
= 2042.80 + 192.68 = 2235.48m 60 x600
Stn. Chainage Chord length, C Deflection angle, Setting out angle,
(0 ) use formula (0 ) cu
cumulative
mulative deflectio
deflection angle

T1 2042.821 0 00 + 00
00
= 00
1 2060 17.179 +
00 = 10
2 2080 20.000
3 2100 20.000 00 20

4 2120 20.000 00 30

5 2140 20.000 00 40

6 2160 20.000 00 50

7 2180 20.000 00 60

8 2200 20.000 00 70

9 2220 20.000 00 80

T2 2235.506 15.506 00 90

= 192.684 = 90 / 2 = 180 0
 Sub chords line method
Radius, R 600m Draw the table form for
Deflection angle
Given 18024' sub chord line method
,
Offset 20m
Stn. Chainage Chord Offset
Chainage 2140m length
intersection
point, I
formula
a 2

Ofset
2R
1

b(b a )
Ofset
2R
2

b 2

Ofset
R
n

c (c b )
Ofset
2R
n 1

Tangent length
= 600 tan (18 24 /2) = 97.20m
PROCEDURE
17.179 2

Chainage T1 = chainage I tangent length Ofset

2 x600
1
= 2140.00 - 97.20 = 2042.80m

Arc length =Rx x2

360 20(20 17.179)
= 600 x 18o = 192.684m Ofset
2 x600
2
360

Chainage T2 = chainage T1 + arc length 20 2

= 2042.80 + 192.68 = 2235.48m Ofset

600
n

Stn. Chainage Chord length Offset 15.506(15.506 20)

Ofset
2 x600
n 1
T1 2042.821 0 -
1 2060 a = 17.179 0.246 First Offset
2 2080 b = 20.000 0.620 Second Offset
3 2100 20.000 0.667
4 2120 20.000 0.667
5 2140 20.000 0.667
6 2160 20.000 0.667 Other Offset
7 2180 20.000 0.667
8 2200 20.000 0.667
9 2220 20.000 0.667
T2 2235.506 c =15.506 0.459 Last Offset
= 192.684 -