Advanced Engineering Surveying

JOB # 9
TO LAYOUT THE COMPOUND CURVE BY DEFLECTION
ANGLE METHOD OR RANKINE’S METHOD
Apparatus:

1. Theodolite
2. Ranging Rods
3. Wooden Pegs
4. Fiber Glass tape
5. Hammer
6. Tripod Stand

Related Theory:

Compound Curve:

When it is not possible to connect the two tangents by one circular curve, it becomes necessary
to take a suitable common tangent, and set the two curves of different radii to connect rear and
forward tangents. This curve is known as compound curve.

Components of Compound Curve:

Page 1 of 7
 Advanced Engineering Surveying

Notations:
AI = Rear tangent
IB = Forward Tangent
t1 t2 = Common tangent
Δ = Deflection angle between rear and forward tangent
Δ1 = Deflection angle between rear and common tangent
Δ2 = Deflection angle between common and forward tangent
O1 = Center of short curve
O2 = Center of long curve
R1 = Radius of short curve
R2 = Radius of long curve
T1 and t = Tangent point for short curve
T2 and t = Tangent point for long curve
IT1 = Ts = Total tangent length for shortest side
IT2 = Total tangent length for longer side
ts = T1t1 = tangent length of short curve
tL = T2t2 =tangent length of long curve

Formulae Related to Compound Curve:

Δ = Δ1 + Δ2

Ts

TL

Common tangent length = t1t2

Curve Length (short curve) =

∆1
Length of Long Chord (short curve) = 2R1 sin
2

Page 2 of 7
 Advanced Engineering Surveying

Curve Length (long curve) =

∆2
Length of Long Chord (long curve) = 2R2 sin
2

Deflection angle (short curve) =

Cs = chord of short curve

Deflection angle (long curve) =

CL = chord of long curve

Chainage of T1 = Chainage of I - Ts

Chainage of t = Chainage of T1 + short curve length

Chainage of T2 = Chainage of t + long curve length

Procedure:
(Write the whole procedure from start to finish in your own words)

1. The theodolite is centered over T1 and leveled properly. Then the deflection angles
for the chords of short curve are set out serially and points P1, P2 ………… are
marked until tangent point t is reached.
2. The theodolite is shifted and centered over t and then the deflection angles for the
chords of long curve are set out serially and all the points are marked until tangent
point T2 is reached.
3. All the points are joined to get shape of compound curve.

Page 3 of 7
 Advanced Engineering Surveying

Curve Design Data:

Radius of short curve =R1 = 60 m, Δ1 = 25º

Radius of long curve = R2 = 80 m, Δ2 = 35º

Chainage of Point (t1) = 1050 m

Peg Interval = 5 m

Δ = Δ1 + Δ2 =

ts = T1t1 = tangent length of short curve =

tL = T2t2 = tangent length of long curve = R =

Common tangent length, t =

Ts =

TL =

∆1
Length of Long Chord (short curve) = 2R1 sin
2
=
∆2
Length of Long Chord (long curve) = 2R2 sin
2
=
Chainage of T1 = Chainage of t1 - ts =

Curve Length (short curve) = =

Chainage of t = Chainage of T1 + short curve length =

Curve Length (long curve) = =

Chainage of T2 = Chainage of t + long curve length =

Page 4 of 7
 Advanced Engineering Surveying

Deflection angle for 1stCurve:

Peg interval = 5 m

1st (Initial) chord length =

Intermediate (full) chord length =

Last (final) chord length =

Deflection angle (1st curve) = δ1 = 28.6479 ×

δ1st =

δint =

δL =

Setting Out Table for 1st Curve

Chord Deflection Setting out Angle on
Chord # Chainage Remarks
length (m) angle of chord Angle (Δ) Instrument

Page 5 of 7
 Advanced Engineering Surveying

Deflection angle for 2nd Curve:

Peg interval = 5 m

1st (Initial) chord length =

Intermediate (full) chord length =

Last chord (final) length =

Deflection angle (2nd curve) = δ2 = 28.6479 ×

δ1st =

δint =

δL =

Setting Out Table for 2nd Curve

Chord Deflection Setting out Angle on
Chord # Chainage Remarks
length (m) angle of chord Angle (Δ) Instrument

Page 6 of 7
 Advanced Engineering Surveying

Comments:

Page 7 of 7