Figure 7: Sumit Curves

3.2.2 Sag Curves

1. Fall to Rise
2. Rise to more Rise

3. Fall to less Fall

4. Straight to Rise
5. Fall to Straight

Figure 8: Sag/Valley Curves

4 Elements of simple Circular curves

1. A: Start point or zero chainage point

2. B: End point or highest chainage point

3. C: Apex point
4. T1 : Point of curve (P.C.)
5. T2 : Point of tangency (P.T.)

6. AT1 : Back tangent

7. BT2 : Forward tangent
8. V : Point of intersection or vertex

4
 9. ∆: Deflection angle and Central angle
10. T1 V = V T2 : Tangent length
11. V C = E: External distance or apex distance

12. CD = M : Mid-ordinate
13. T1 CT2 = l: Length of curve
14. T1 DT2 = LLong chord (P.C. to P.T.)

15. Normal chord or full chord: Chord between two successive regular stations
16. Sub-chord: Any chord shorter than normal chord
17. Right and Left hand curve: based on movement of vehicle

Figure 9: Elements of SImple Circular Curve

5 Designation of Curve
Usually, curvature or sharpness of the curve can be designated by its radius (Preferred in UK, Australia).
However, for large radius, it must be designated by some other measure, called as the degree of curve (USA,
INDIA, CANADA).

Arc (Highways) or Chord (Railways) definition: Central angle subtended by an arc or chord of standard
chain length (30 m or 20 m).

5
5.1 Relationship between radius and Degree of curve for 30 m Chain: Arc Defi-
nition
30 = D × R

D◦
30 = π×R
180
180 × 30
D◦ =
πR
1718.873385
D◦ =
R
1719
D◦ ≈
R
1719
R≈
D◦

Figure 10: Arc Definition

5.2 Relationship between radius and Degree of curve for 30 m Chain: Chord
Definition
D
30 = 2R sin
2
π
D◦ ×
30 = 2R sin 180
2
π
D◦ ×
30 ≈ 2R 180
2
180 × 30
D◦ =
πR
1718.873385
D◦ =
R
1719
D◦ ≈
R
1719
R≈
D◦

6
 Figure 11: Chord Definition

5.3 Relationship between radius and Degree of curve for 20 m Chain: Arc Defi-
nition
20 = D × R

D◦
20 = π×R
180
180 × 20
D◦ =
πR
1145.91559
D◦ =
R
1146
D◦ ≈
R
1146
R≈
D◦

Figure 12: Arc Definition 20 m

7
6 Calculate the Elements of Simple Circular Curve
6.1 The Length of the Curve
l =R×∆

1719 π
l= ◦
× ∆◦ ×
D 180
30∆◦
l=
D

6.2 The Tangent Length

∆
T = R tan
2

6.3 The Long chord length

∆
LT = 2R sin
2

6.4 The Apex Distance

E = OV − OC

R
E= −R
cos (∆/2)
( )
∆
E = R sec − 1
2

6.5 The Mid ordinate

M = OC − OD

∆
M = R − R cos
2
( )
∆
M = R 1 − cos
2

7 Numerical-1
A circular curve has a 200 m radius and 65◦ deflection angle. What is its degree (i) by arc definition (30 m
length) and (ii) by chord definition (20 m length). Also calculate: (a) length of curve, (b) tangent length, (c)
length of long chord, (d) apex distance, and (e) mid-ordinate.

Solution:

(i) Degree of curve (30 m length)

1719
D=
R
1719
D=
200

D = 80.595◦
(ii) Degree of curve (20 m length)

8
 1146
D=
R
1146
D=
200

D = 5.73◦
(a) Length of Curve

π
l = 200 × 65 ×
180

l = 226.8928 m
(b) Tangent length

∆
T = R tan
2
65
T = 200 tan
2

T = 127.41 m
(c) Length of the long chord

( )
∆
L = 2R sin
2
( )
65
L = 2 (200) sin
2

L = 214.92 m
(d) Apex distance

( ( ) )
∆
E = R sec −1
2
( ( ) )
65
E = 200 sec −1
2

E = 37.1378 m
(e) Mid-ordinate
( ( ))
∆
M = R 1 − cos
2
( ( ))
65
M = 200 1 − cos
2

M = 31.3217 m

8 Setting Out Simple Curves

Setting out a curve means locating various points at equal and convenient distances along the length of a curve.
• Peg interval: Distance between any two successive points chosen along the chord