Topic 4

Spiral Curves on
Highways and Railways
ENGR. JUNE CARLO S. ENCABO
CE431- Principles of Transportation Engineering
 Spirals are used to overcome the abrupt change in
curvature and super elevation that occurs between
Analysis of tangent and circular curve.
SPIRAL CURVES The spiral curve is used to gradually change the
curvature and super elevation of the road, thus
called transition curve
Analysis of
SPIRAL CURVES
Analysis of
SPIRAL CURVES
Analysis of
SPIRAL CURVES
Analysis of
SPIRAL CURVES
Analysis of
SPIRAL CURVES
Analysis of
SPIRAL CURVES
Analysis of
SPIRAL CURVES
Analysis of
SPIRAL CURVES
Analysis of
SPIRAL CURVES
Analysis of
SPIRAL CURVES
Analysis of
SPIRAL CURVES Radius of Curve:
Rc= 1145.916/ D
Design Speed (K):
3
Lc=(0.036K )/Rc
Centripetal Acceleration:
3
Lc=(0.0215V )/RcC
Analysis of
SPIRAL CURVES
A simple curve having a radius of 280 m. connects two tangents intersecting at an
angle of 50 degrees. It is to be replaced by another curve having 80 m spirals at it
ends that the point of tangency shall be the same.

a. Determine the radius of the new circular curve

b. Determine the distance that the curve will come nearer the vertex.
c. Determine the central angle of the circular curve
d. Determine the deflection angle at the end of the spiral
e. Determine the offset from tangent at the end point of the spiral
f. Determine the distance along the tangent at the mid-point of the spiral.