18/01/2024

HORIZONTAL CURVES
SURVEYING 2
- A horizontal curve is provided at the point where the two straight lines
intersect in the horizontal plane.
- Generally, the horizontal curves provided are circular in nature.

Types of Horizontal Curves:

1. Simple Curve 3. Reverse Curve

2. Compound Curve 4. Spiral (Transition) Curve

Simple Curve Formulas: V

I
- a circular arc, extending from one tangent to the next. This curve is tangential to
two straight lines of the route. T – Tangent Distance → E
T T
POINTS V M
I C – Long Chord → PC I/2 PT
P.C. – Point of Curve
P.I./V – Point of Intersection / Vertex E C
T T
P.T. – Point of Tangent M – Middle Ordinate →
M
PC PT
ANGLE C
I – Angle of Intersection E – External Distance → R R
I/2
LINES I
D – Degree of Curve →
R – Radius R R
T – Tangent Distance I/2
C – Long Chord I L – Length of Curve → Deflection Angle = Central Angle / 2
M – Middle Ordinate
E – External Distance
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Problem 1: β1 Problem 1: β1
V I V I
Two tangents adjacent to each other having bearings Two tangents adjacent to each other having bearings
N 65β°30’ E and S 85β°10’ E meet at station 11+157.98. β2 N 65°30’ E and S 85°10’ E meet at station 11+157.98. β2
2 T T T T
If the 1radius of the simple curve connecting these two If the radius of the simple curve connecting these two
tangents is 249.17m, determine the ff: PT tangents is 249.17m, determine the ff: PT
PC PC B
a. Tangent Distance β1
b. Long Chord
β1

I T I C/2
tan = sin =
2 R 2 R
R R R R
I I/2 I I/2
T = R tan I C = 2R sin I
2 2
A A
29°20’ 29°20’
T = 249.17 tan C = 2(249.17) sin
2 I = 180° - 65° 30’ - 85° 10’ 2
T = 65.21 m C = 126.18 m
I = 29° 20’

Problem 1: β1 Problem 1: β1
V I V I
Two tangents adjacent to each other having bearings Two tangents adjacent to each other having bearings
N 65°30’ E and S 85°10’ E meet at station 11+157.98. β2 N 65°30’ E and S 85°10’ E meet at station 11+157.98. β2
T T T T
If the radius of the simple curve connecting these two If the radius of the simple curve connecting these two
tangents is 249.17m, determine the ff: PT tangents is 249.17m, determine the ff: PT
PC B PC B
c. Middle Ordinate d. External Distance
β1 β1
E = AV - R I R
I AB cos =
M = R - AB cos = 2 AV
2 R
I R R R I R R
AB = R cos AV = = R sec
I/2 I 2 I/2
2 cos
I 2 I
I
M = R - R cos I
2 A E = R sec - R A
2
29°20’ 29°20’
I M = 249.17 (1 - cos ) E = 249.17 ( sec - 1)
2 I 2
M = R (1 - cos ) E = R ( sec - 1)
2 M = 8.12 m 2 E = 8.39 m
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Problem 1: β1 Problem 1: β1
V I V I
Two tangents adjacent to each other having bearings Two tangents adjacent to each other having bearings
N 65°30’ E and S 85°10’ E meet at station 11+157.98. β2 N 65°30’ E and S 85°10’ E meet at station 11+157.98. β2
T T T T
If the radius of the simple curve connecting these two If the radius of the simple curve connecting these two
tangents is 249.17m, determine the ff: PT tangents is 249.17m, determine the ff: PT
PC B PC B
e. Degree of Curve f. Length of Curve
β1 β1
1145.916
D= (Arc Basis) πRI
R L =
- angle subtended by an arc of 20 m or 100 ft 180°
R R R R
20m I/2 I/2
20 2πR
= Length of Arc:
D 360° 1145.916 I
π(249.17)(29°20’) I
D=
R D R 249.17 s=rθ L =
20(360°) A 180° A
D = π
2πR D = 4.60° (Chord Basis) L= RI
R 180° L = 127.57 m
1145.916 D 10
360° D = sin =
R 2 R

Problem 1: β1 Problem 1:
V I
Two tangents adjacent to each other having bearings Two tangents adjacent to each other having bearings
N 65°30’ E and S 85°10’ E meet at station 11+157.98. β2 N 65°30’ E and S 85°10’ E meet at station 11+157.98.
T T
If the radius of the simple curve connecting these two If the radius of the simple curve connecting these two
tangents is 249.17m, determine the ff: tangents is 249.17m, determine the ff: V
B PT
g. Stationing of PT PC g. Stationing of PT
β1

11+157.98 → Sta. V (reference station) 11+157.98 → Sta. V (reference station) PC PT

Sta. PT = Sta. V + T R R Sta. PT = Sta. V + T

I/2
Sta. PT = Sta. V - T + L I Sta. PT = Sta. V - T + L
R R
(Sta. PC) A (Sta. PC)
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Problem 1: β1
V Compound Curve
Two tangents adjacent to each other having bearings I
N 65°30’ E and S 85°10’ E meet at station 11+157.98. β2 - consists of two or more consecutive simple curves having V
T T I1+ I2
If the radius of the simple curve connecting these two different radius, but whose centers lie on the same side of the
tangents is 249.17m, determine the ff: PT curve.
PC B
g. Stationing of PT
β1

11+157.98 → Sta. V (reference station) Elements of a Compound Curve:

B I1
R = radius curve T1 I2
Sta. PT = Sta. V + T
R R I = central angle C1
I/2 PC D
Sta. PT = Sta. V - T + L I BD = common tangent C2
C T2
A = T1 + T2
(Sta. PC)
PCC = Point of Compound Curvature I2
PT
Sta. PT = (11+157.98) - 65.21 + 127.57 Sta. 11 + 220.34 R1 I1
T = tangent distance R2
SI km m (1000 m)
Sta. PT = 11+220.34
English 1 full sta. ft (100 ft) C = long chord

I1 = 30° I2 = 24° D1 = 4° D2 = 5° Sta. V = 4+620

Problem 2: 1145.916 1145.916 V
R1 = = 286.48 m R2 = = 229.18 m 54°
4° 5°
A compound curve has the following elements: 126°
Sta. PC = Sta. V - BV - T1
I1 = 30° I2 = 24°
30° 24°
T1 = 286.48 tan T2 = 229.18 tan B 30°
D1 = 4° D2 = 5° 2 2
24°
T1 = 76.76 m T2 = 48.71 m T1
If the stationing of the vertex is 4+ 620,
BD = 76.76 m + 48.71 m PC D
a. Determine the stationing of PC. BD = 125.47 m
T2
BV 125.47
b. Find the stationing of PT. sin 24°
=
sin 126°
BV = 63.08 m 24° PT
R1
30° R2
c. Determine the long chord of the compound curve. Sta. PC = (4+620) - 63.08 - 76.76
Sta. PC = 4+480.16
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I1 = 30° I2 = 24° D1 = 4° D2 = 5° Sta. V = 4+620

Reverse Curve
R1 = 286.48 m R2 = 229.18 m T1 = 76.76 m T2 = 48.71 m
V
54° - formed by two circular simple curves having a
BD = 125.47 m BV = 63.08 m Sta. PC = 4+480.16
126° common tangent but lies on opposite sides. The point
Sta. PT = Sta. PC + L1 + L2 where the curve reversed in its direction is called
Point of Reversed Curvature (PRC).
π(286.48)(30°) π(229.18)(24°)
= (4+480.16) + + B 30°
180° 180° 24°
Sta. PT = 4+726.16 T1 Four types of Reversed Curve Problems:
PC D
1. Equal Radii and Parallel Tangents
VD 125.47 C
= VD = 77.54 m T2
sin 30° sin 126° 2. Unequal Radii and Parallel Tangents
24° PT
T1 + BV T2 + VD R1 3. Equal Radii and Converging Tangents
C2 = (139.84)2 + (126.25)2 - 2(139.84)(126.25)cos 126° 30° R2
4. Unequal Radii and Converging Tangents
C = 237.17 m

REVERSE CURVE – PARALLEL TANGENTS – UNEQUAL RADII

Problem 3:
P=a+b
I = I1 = I2
The perpendicular distance between two parallel tangents of the
R1 - a R2 - b
reverse curve is 35m. The azimuth of the back tangent is 270° Cos I =
R1
Cos I =
R2 R2 I R2 - b
PC
while the common tangent is 300°. The first radius of the curve is
R1 cos I = R1 - a R2 cos I = R2 - b I = 30°
160m and the stationing of PRC is 2+578. Determine the a
a = R1 - R1 cos I b = R2 – R2 cos I
following: P = 35m
a = R1 (1 - cos I) b = R2 (1 - cos I) b
AzimuthNorth
a. Radius of the second curve. P = R1 (1-cos I) + R2 (1-cos I) PT
R1 - a
b. Stationing of PC. P = (1-cos I) (R1 + R2) I R1 = 160 m
AzimuthSouth
c. Stationing of PT. R1 + R2 =
P STA.PRC = 2+578
1 – cos I
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REVERSE CURVE – PARALLEL TANGENTS – UNEQUAL RADII

P I = I1 = I2
Spiral Curve
R1 + R 2 =
1 – cos I R2 I R2 - b
PC
V
35 I = 30° I
160 + R2 = a
1 – cos 30° Central/Simple
P=35m Curve Es
R2 = 101.24 m b Ts
Xc Ic
Sta. PC = Sta. PRC - L1 PT θs SC CS θs
R1 - a Spiral
I R1 = 160 m
π(160)(30°) R I R
= (2+578) -
180° STA.PRC = 2+578 Ls
θs Ic θs
Sta. PC = 2+494.22 π(101.24)(30°) TS ST
= (2+578) + P
180° (Length of Throw)
Sta. PT = Sta. PRC + L2 Sta. PT = 2+631.01

Spiral Curve * (deflection angle)

@ SC @ any point * *
LS L (length of throw)
xC x
θS θ
Short Tangent
𝑳𝟓
Xc 𝒀=𝑳−
𝟒𝟎𝑹𝟐 𝑳𝒔 𝟐
Long Tangent θs SC
x *
Ls
(super elevation)
TS L
*𝑫 =𝑳
𝑫 𝑳 (D = degree of spiral to
𝒄 𝒔
any point on the spiral)
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Problem 4: Problem 4:
A spiral curve having a spiral of length 100 m is to be laid out in a certain A spiral curve having a spiral of length 100 m is to be laid out in a certain
portion of road. The degree of the central curve is 6°. portion of road. The degree of the central curve is 6°.
a. Find the offset distance at the first quarter point of spiral. a. Find the offset distance at the first quarter point of spiral.
b. Determine the spiral angle at the third quarter point of spiral. b. Determine the spiral angle at the third quarter point of spiral.
c. Compute the maximum speed of the car that could pass through the c. Compute the maximum speed of the car that could pass through the
spiral without skidding. spiral without skidding.
xc xc
Offset Distance Spiral Angle θs
1145.916 SC SC
R= θ
L3 6° x L2 180° x
x= θ= x
6RLs R = 190.986 m 2RLs π

TS (75)2 180° TS
(25)3 θ= x
x= x = 0.14 m 2 (190.986)(100) π
6 (190.986)(100)
θ = 8.44°

Problem 4: Problem 5:
A spiral curve having a spiral of length 100 m is to be laid out in a certain A spiral easement curve has a spiral angle at SC of 12° and an offset distance at SC equal to
portion of road. The degree of the central curve is 6°. 3.4m. Distance along tangent up to SC is 79.62m. What is the length of the short tangent,
a. Find the offset distance at the first quarter point of spiral.
long tangent and length of throw?
b. Determine the spiral angle at the third quarter point of spiral.
xc
c. Compute the maximum speed of the car that could pass through the sin θs =
spiral without skidding. ST
xc 3.4
h sin 12° = ST = 16.35 m
Length of Spiral based on speed/velocity θs ST
SC xc = 3.4 m
θ
0.036K3 x θs = 12° xc
Ls = LT SC tan θs =
R h
TS 3.4
tan 12° = h = 16.00 m
0.036K3 TS h
100 = K = 80.95 kph
190.986
LT = 79.62 - 16 = 63.62 m
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Problem 5:
A spiral easement curve has a spiral angle at SC of 12° and an offset distance at SC equal to
3.4m. Distance along tangent up to SC is 79.62m. What is the length of the short tangent,
long tangent and length of throw?
Ls 2 xc
P= =
24R 4
h
xc = 3.4 m L3 @ SC: L = ?
x= ;
θs = 12° 6RLs L = Ls
LT SC
Ls 3 Ls 2
xc = =
6RLs 6R
TS Ls 2 1 xc
3.4 P= x =
P= = 0.85 m 6R 4 4
4 xc