HIGHWAY CURVES
• Horizontal Curves
Simple Curves
Compound Curves
Reversed Curves
• Parabolic Curves
Symmetrical Curves
Unsymmetrical Curves
Geometry of a circular curves:
An inscribed angle is measured by one half its intercept arc
A
B
Symmetrical Curves
O
ACB =½ AOB
Geometry of a circular curves:
Inscribed angles having he same or equal intercept arcs are equal
A B
Symmetrical Curves
θ
D
θ
C
ADB = ACB
Geometry of a circular curves:
An angle formed by a tangent and a chord is measured
by one half its intercepted arc.
B
A
2θ
θ
C
2θ
Symmetrical
Curves
D
BAC =½ ADC
Geometry of a circular curves:
Tangents from an external point of a circle are equal
Symmetrical Curves
B
AB = BC
Geometry of a circular curves:
Angles whose sides are perpendicular to each other are
either equal or supplementary.
E
90 ͦ
B
θ
B
D
F
ABC = FED
SIMPLE CURVES
Simple Curves – is a circular arc,
extending from one tangent to the
next. The point where the curve
leaves the first tangents is called the
“point of curvature” (P.C.) and the
point where the curve joins the
second tangent is called the “point of
tangency”(P.T.)
DEGREE OF CURVES: ARC BASIS
Metric System:
Symme
R
trical
Curves
0
DEGREE OF CURVES: ARC BASIS
English System:
Symme
R
trical
Curves
DEGREE OF CURVES: CHORD BASIS
DEGREE OF CURVES: CHORD BASIS
Elements of a Simple Curve:
P.C. = point of curvature
P.T. = point of tangency
P.I. = point of intersection
R = radius of curvature
D = degree of curve
T = tangent distance
I = angle of intersection
E = external distance
M = middle ordinate
Lc = lenght of curve
C = long chord
c1 and c2 = sub-chord
d1 and d2 = sub-angle
DEGREE OF CURVES: Formulas
1. Radius, T
2. Tangent distance, T
3. External distance, E
4. Middle Ordinate, M
5. Length of chord, C
6. Length of curve, Lc
7. Sub-arc/ sub curve, Lc
Simple Curve Problems
• A simple curve has a central angle of 36° and a
degree of curve of 6°.
a) Find the nearest distance from the midpoint of the
curve to the point of intersection of the tangents.
b) Compute the distance from the midpoint of the
curve to the midpoint of the long cord joining the
point of curvature and point of tangency.
c) If stationing of the point of curvature is 10 + 020,
compute the stationing of a point on the curve
which intersects with the line making deflection
angle of 8° with the tangent through the point of
curvature.
Simple Curve Problems 1
• A simple of a proposed extension of Matina
Highway have a direction of tangent AB which is
due north and tangent BC bearing N 50° E. Point
A is at the point of curvature whose stationing is
20 + 130.46. The degree of curve is 4°.
– Compute the long cord of the curve.
– Compute the stationing of point D on the curve along
a line joining the center of the curve which make an
angle of 540with the tangent line passing thru the PC.
– What is the length of the line from D to the
intersection tangent AB.
Simple Curve Problems 2
• The tangents of a simple curve have bearing of
N 20° E and N 80° E respectively. The radius of
curve is 200 m.,
– Compute the external distance of the curve.
– Compute the middle ordinate of the curve.
– Compute the stationing of point A on the curve
having deflection angle of 6° from the point of
curvature which is at 1 + 200.00
Simple Curve Problems 3
• The tangents distance of a 3° simple curve is
only ½ of its radius.
– Compute the angle of intersection of the curve.
– Compute the length of the curve.
– Compute the area of the fillet of a curve.
Simple Curve Problems 4
• A simple curve connects two tangents AB and
BC bearing N 85° 30’ E and S 68° 30’ E
respectively. If the stationing of the vertex is 4
+ 360.2 and the stationing of the point of
curvature is 4 + 288.4,
– compute the radius.
– compute the external distance.
– compute the middle ordinate.
– compute the chord distance.
– compute the length of curve.
Simple Curve Problems 5
• The radius of a simple curve is twice its
tangent distance. If the degree of curve is 4°.
– What is the angle of intersection of the curve?
– Compute the length of curve?
– Compute the area enclosed by the curve?
