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Types of circular Curves

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Circular Curves Notations

Definitions:
Point of intersection (vertex) PI, back and forward tangents.
Point of Curvature PC, beginning of the curve
Point of Tangency PT, end of the Curve.
Tangent Distance T: Distance from PC, or PT to PI
Long Chord LC: the line connecting PC and PT
Length of the Curve L: distance for PC to PT on the curve
External Distance E: The length from PI to curve midpoint.
Middle ordinate M: the radial distance between the midpoints of the
long chord and curve.
POC: any point on the curve.
POT: any point on tangent
Intersection Angle I: the change of direction of the two
tangents,equal to the central angle subtended by the curve

Circular Curves Formulas

PT PC R :
m20 = . D
L = 20

L / I = 20 / D
L = R* I

(I in radians)
R=

D/360 = 20 / 2 R
T = R tan(

I
D m, where D and I in same units.

I
2

D
LC = 2R sin( I )
2

1
E = R cos (I/2) - 1
I
E = T tan 4

()

57.3 * 20

M = R 1 - cos I
2
M = E cos I
2

(m)

Example
Calculate the elements of a circular (simple) horizontal curve
of which the degree is 5 , and the intersection angle is
160.
Answer:
L = 20 (I/D) = 20 *(160/ 5) = 640 m
R = 57.3 *20 / D = 57.3 *20 / 5 = 229.2 m
T = R tan (I/2) = 229.2 * tan (160 /2) = 1299.85m
Similarly,
LC = 2R sin (I/2) = 2 ( 229.2) sin (80) =
Then, Calculate M and E

Circular Curve
.
CL

. :

I and R, or I and D
-- : M E T
--


: ()
m.1000
A + B : A 11+213 :
B .

= m 11213 . +

11+213 13+ 412
13412 11213 = 2199 m.



EDM
All stations will be positioned from PC.
Compute the chord length and the deflection angle from the direction
PC-PI as follows: (see fig 25-6)
da=

Sa D
40

(degrees)

Ca = 2R sin da

Where:

da = D
Sa D
or,
d
=
a
Sa 20
20
Theory; the angle between the tangent and a chord is equal to half the
central angle subtended by the chord, so get da

Ca
Also, sin da =
2R
Example

from which Ca = 2R sin da

In a curve whose I = 8 24, station of PC is

62+ 917.08, D = 2 00, calculate the
necessary information to stake out points at
stations 63+000, and 63+020.
Answer:
.. a= Sa D/40 deg, and Ca = 2R sin a
.. At station 63+000, Sa = 63000 62917.8 = 82.92 m
then, = (82.92) (2)/40 = 4.146 = 04 08 46
C= 2 (57.3 *20/2) sin(04 08 46( =
82.86 m
At station 63+020, Sa = 102.92m
Then = (102.92) (2)/40 = 5 820
C = 2 (57.3 *20/2) sin(5 820 ) = 102.65 m