CE 226
ENGINEERING SURVEYS
BY: ENGR. AIAN JALECO JR
SIMPLE CURVE
Simple circular curves consist of a circular arc of radius R connecting two tangent
lines T at the tangent point called the Point of Intersection I. The curve starts at
the Point of Commencement (PC) and ends at the Point of Tangency (PT).
PI
T T
PT
PC
R R
O
SIMPLE CURVE •PC = Point of curvature. It is the
beginning of curve.
PI
•PT = Point of tangency. It is the end
of curve.
T T
•PI = Point of intersection of the
PT
PC
L/2 L/2
tangents. Also called vertex
•T = Length of tangent
from PC to PI and from PI to PT. It
R R
is known as subtangent.
•R = Radius of simple curve, or
O simply radius.
•L = Length of chord from PC to PT.
SIMPLE CURVE
Lc = Length of curve from PC to PT.
PI
E = External distance, the nearest distance
E from PI to the curve.
T T
m m = Middle ordinate, the distance from
PT
PC
L/2 L/2 midpoint of curve to midpoint of chord.
I = Deflection angle (also called angle of
intersection and central angle). It is the
R R
I
angle of intersection of the tangents. The
angle subtended by PC and PT at O is also
equal to I, where O is the center of the
O circular curve from the above figure.
SIMPLE CURVE
Lc = Length of curve from PC to PT.
PI
I E = External distance, the nearest distance
E from PI to the curve.
T T
m m = Middle ordinate, the distance from
PT
PC
L/2 L/2 midpoint of curve to midpoint of chord.
I = Deflection angle (also called angle of
intersection and central angle). It is the
R R
I
angle of intersection of the tangents. The
angle subtended by PC and PT at O is also
equal to I, where O is the center of the
O circular curve from the above figure.
SIMPLE CURVE
x = offset distance from tangent to the
PI curve. Note: x is perpendicular to T.
I
E
T x T θ = offset angle subtended
θ m at PC between PI and any point in the curve
PT
PC
L/2 L/2
D = Degree of curve. It is the central angle
subtended by a length of curve equal to one
forward
tangent station. In English system, one station is
back
tangent
R
2θ
R equal to 100 ft and in SI, one station is
I equal to 20 m.
O
SIMPLE CURVE Length of Tangent, T
PI
I
T E T
m
PT
PC
L/2 L/2 External Distance, E
R R
I
O
SIMPLE CURVE Middle Ordinate, m
PI
I
T E T
m
PT
PC
L/2 L/2
Length of Long Chord, L
R R
I
O
SIMPLE CURVE Length of Curve,
PI
I
T E T
m
PT
Alternative formula using ratio
PC
L/2 L/2 and proportion
R R
I
O
SIMPLE CURVE Degree of the Curve, D
The degree of curve is the central angle
PI subtended by an arc (arc basis) or chord (chord
I basis) of one station. It will define the sharpness
T E T of the curve. In English system, 1 station is equal
to 100 ft. In SI, 1 station is equal to 20 m
m
PT
PC Arc Basis
L/2 L/2
R R
I Chord Basis
O
SIMPLE CURVE
Example 1 – A simple curve has a central angle of 36° and a
degree of curve of 6°.
1) Find the nearest distance from the midpoint of the
curve to the point of intersection of the tangents.
2) Compute the distance from the midpoint of the curve to
the midpoint of the long chord.
3) If the stationing of the point of curvature is 10+020,
compute the stationing of a point on the curve which
intersects with the line making a deflection angle of 8° with
the tangents through the PC.
SIMPLE CURVE
Example 2 – The tangents of a simple curve have a
bearings of N 20° E and N 80° E respectively. The radius
of the curve is 200 m.
1) Compute the external distance of the curve.
2) Compute the middle ordinate of the curve.
3) Compute the stationing of point A on the curve
having a deflection angle of 6° from the PC which is
at 1+200.
SIMPLE CURVE
Example 3 – The tangent distance of a 3° simple curve is
only half of its radius
1) Compute the angle of intersection of the curve.
2) Compute the length of the curve.
3) Compute the stationing of PT if the stationing of
PI is at 8+340.
SIMPLE CURVE
Example 4 – The perpendicular distance from point A on
a simple curve to Q on the tangent line is 64 m. If the
distance from the PC to Q on the tangent is 260 m, find
the following:
1) Radius of the simple curve
2) Length of the curve from PC to A
3) If the angle of intersection of the curve is 68°,
compute the length of long chord from PC to PT
SIMPLE CURVE
Example 5 – The tangents of a simple curve have a
bearings of due North and N 45° E respectively. The
radius of the curve is 100 m. PI is at station 10+030.
Compute the following:
1) E
2) m
3) Stationing of PC
4) Stationing of PT
5) Stationing of point A on the simple curve that
makes 11° deflection angle from PC.
