New Era University

College of Engineering and Architecture

Civil Engineering Department

ENGINEERING SURVEY (CE 222F - 18)

FIELDWORK No. 5

DESIGN AND LAYOUT OF REVERSED CURVE

RATING

NAME: DATE PERFORMED:

SCHEDULE: LOCATION: DATE SUBMITTED:

__________________________________
Instructor

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DESIGN AND LAYOUT OF REVERSED CURVE

OBJECTIVES
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1. To construct the geometric design features of the reverse curves based from the staked
preliminary lines when the curve is:
a. Connected and tangent to two parallel tangents
b. Connected and tangent to three intersecting lines
2. To layout reverse curve using deflection angles and chord distances.

THEORY
A reverse, or ogee or “S” curve, such as shown
in Figure 5.1, is another variation of horizontal curve
composed of two consecutive or adjacent simple
circular curves having a common tangent with either
equal or different radius and lie on opposite sides or
directions.
The alignment and elements illustrated in
Figure 5.2, which shows a reverse curve with no
intermediate tangent, separates the two connecting
curves along the point of reverse curvature (PRC).
This type of reverse curve is suitable only for low-
speed roads such as those with mountainous terrain
and subdivision street design.
Figure 5.1 Reverse curve along an arterial highway in
mountainous area of Infanta, Quezon Province
Elements of a typical reverse curve are shown below:

Where:
R1&R2 = radii of compound curve
I1&I2 = central angles
TC = T1 + T2 = common tangent
V1&V2 =pt of intersection of tangents
LCU = LCU1 + LCU2
length of the reverse curve
LC = LC1 + LC2
Length of long chord
P = parallel distance
P.C. = point of curvature
P.R.C. = point of reverse curvature
P.T. = point of tangency

Figure 5.2 – Elements of Reverse 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.1 Reverse curves connected and tangent to two parallel lines.
1. Choose two points along the road taken on the preliminary lines; connect two termini (sta. A. and B)
of the route. Extend two lines parallel to each other that will serve as the back tangent of the first arc
and forward tangent of the second are of the reverse curve.
2. From figure 5.3, draw a line connecting the two possible termini, sta. A and B of the curve and
connect these two points with a straight line AB. Along line AB, select point C where you want to
have the reverse curve change its direction.
3. Draw perpendicular bisector from lines BC and AC to mark pts. D and E. Erect a perpendicular line
from pts. D and E as follows to A and B. The points of intersections (O 1 and O2) between the
perpendiculars are the central angles for arcs BC & AC, respectively.
4. Using the compass, measure the length of the left and right radii (R1 and R2) as follows with its
corresponding central angles (I1 and I2) using an appropriate scale.

Figure 5.3 –Reverse curve connecting and tangent to two parallel lines

A.2 Reverse curves connected & tangent to three intersecting straight lines.
1. From the existing centerline of the two roads taken on the preliminary lines, connect two termini of
the route (sta. D and E). Extend the two lines that will serve as the back tangent of the first arc and
forward tangent of the second arc of the curve. These two lines should connect the centerline of the
existing road where the reverse curve will be constructed.
2. Using figure 5.4, connect points A and B by a straight line that intersects the previous two tangents
lines extending from the existing road.
3. Select along line AB point C where you want to have the reverse curve change its direction and
approximately equal to the length of tangent distances of the left and right arc curve.

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 4. Layoff from pt. A, a distance equal to AC by using a compass which pivots at A and make a mark
along the tangent line extending from A to establish pt. D. Erect a perpendicular line from D and
another from C. The point of intersection between these perpendicular lines is the center (O1) of the
arc DC. Measure the left radius (R1) from OD or OC, and the left central angle (I1) up to nearest 0.5°.
5. Draw the curves with centers at O1 and O2. Determine the right radius (R2) and its central angle (I2)
of the right curve. Use terminal D of the route as the station of P.C.
6. Compute and design the other elements of the reverse curve needed using the measured distances,
angles and known station on the preliminary data.
7. From the interior angle of each station, determine the deflection angles for each full station depending
on the sharpness of the reversed curve designed. Tabulate results as shown in preliminary data sheet
(PDS).

Figure 5.4 –Reverse curve connecting and tangent to three intersecting lines

B. Field Layout of Reverse Curve

1. Set up the transit at sta. PC, and then level the instruments by adjusting 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 PI and then sight individual stationing on the curve using its corresponding deflection angles
along the back tangent.
3. Sight sta. PI with the telescope normal or at zero vernier. Tighten lower clamp and adjust with upper
tangent screw to locate range pole at sta. PI.
4. Open upper clamp and set on the vernier the first deflection angle and stake marking pins to mark the
location station. Sight the next deflection angle up to station PCC with its corresponding arc or chord
distances. Using the last point as the first station, measure 20-m or any offset distance (depending on
the sharpness of the curve) until the line of sight of preceding station is intersected.
5. 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 until PRC is fixed. Be careful to set succeeding
total deflection angles on the vernier of the instrument.
6. Set-up the instrument at PRC then layout the stationing until PT by doing the same procedure in laying
out the other simple curve from PC to PRC.

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

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COMPUTATIONS
1. Computation of elements along reverse curve is identical to the computation of elements along
simple curve since reverse curve is composed of two simple curves connected at the point of
curvature but opposite direction.
2. A reverse curve connected with parallel tangents (P) and connected with equal central angle at
both opposite arcs such as shown below.
3. If intermediate tangents (T1) or separation distance is provided along the reverse curve, the
common tangent (TC) will be as follows.

QUESTIONS
1. Sketch with accompanying labels the following types of reversed curves:
1.1 Reverse curves with diverging tangents
1.2 Reverse curves with converging tangents
1.3 Reverse curves with intermediate tangents
1.4 Reverse curves with parallel tangents
2. What is the purpose of providing intermediate tangents along the reverse curve?
3. How can you layout a reverse curve if the sta. PRC is obstructed by a negative control?
Explain with accompanying sketch.

PROBLEMS
1. The perpendicular distance between the two parallel tangents is equal to 202m, central angle equal
to 68 degrees and radius of curvature of the first curve is 167m. Find the radius of the second curve
of the reversed curved.
2. Compute the stationing of the reverse curve in problem no.1 if the stationing of PI of the first
curve is 15 + 200m.

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SKECTH OF THE SET-UP
(Note: Draw the scaled map of the entire area having all the improvement data)

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 NAME: DATE PERFORMED:

SCHEDULE: LOCATION: DATE SUBMITTED:

PRELIMARY DATA SHEET

FIELDWORK No. 5
Design and Layout of Reverse Curve
I. Elements of the Reverse Curve
Left Central Angle (I1) Length of Chords (LC1 & LC2)
Right Central Angle (I2) Degree of Curve (D1&D2)
Left Radius (R1) a=
Right Radius (R2) b=
Tangent of Left Curve (t1) Parallel Distance P=
Tangent of Right Curve (t2) Stationing of PI1 14 + 562
Common Tangent (TC) Stationing PC
Length of left Curve (LCU1) Stationing of PRC _____
Length of Right Curve (LCU2) Stationing of P.T. _____

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

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

0
1
Curve 1

2
3
4
5
6
Curve 2

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8
9
Measured Parallel Distance P
Note: (Compute the elements and draw the final route on separate sheet of paper)

Checked by:

______________________________________
Instructor