Horizontal Curves

Simple Curves
 Terms
• PC = Point of curvature. It is the beginning of curve.
• PT = Point of tangency. It is the end of curve.
• PI = Point of intersection of the tangents. Also called
vertex
• T = Length of tangent from PC to PI and
from PI to PT. It is known as subtangent.
• R = Radius of simple curve, or simply radius.
• C = Length of chord from PC to PT.
• L = Length of curve from PC to PT.
 Terms
• E = External distance, the nearest distance from PI to
the curve.
• M = Middle ordinate, the distance from midpoint of
curve to midpoint of chord.
• Δ= Deflection angle (also called angle of
intersection and central angle)
• d = Degree of curve. It is the central angle subtended
by a length of curve equal to one station. In English
system, one station is equal to 100 ft and in SI, one
station is equal to 20 m.
Formulas Used in Solving Simple Circular
Curves
 Horizontal Curves Sample Problems
1. A simple circular horizontal curve has 150m
radius. Its central angle is found to be 32 degrees.
Find all the values of the curve’s parameters.
2. A car with a constant velocity of 76kmph, traveled
along a highway curve. The car entered the simple
curve at exactly 7:00 in the morning and exited 18
seconds after. The degree of curvature of the
highway curve is found to be 3 degrees. Compute for
all the parameters of the highway curve.
 Horizontal Curves Sample Problems

3. The tangents of a simple curve have bearings

of N50°E and N80°E respectively. The radius of
the curve is 200m.
• Compute for the external distance
• Compute for the middle ordinate
• Compute for the stationing of point A on the
curve having a deflection angle of 6° from PC
which is at 1+200.00.
 Horizontal Curves Sample Problems
4. A simple curve of the proposed extension of
Mantabahadra Highway have a direction of tangent AB which
is due north and tangent BC bearing N50°E. Point A is at the
PC whose stationing is 20+130.46. The degree of curve is 4°.
• Compute the long chord of the curve
• Compute the stationing of point D on the curve along a line
joining the center of the curve which makes an angle 54°
with the tangent line passing through the PC
• What is the length of the line from D to the intersection of
the tangent AB.
 Horizontal Curves Sample Problems

5. The tangent 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 fillet of the curve
 Seatwork
1. A simple curve has a radius of 286.48m. Its distance
from PC to PT along the curve is equal to 240m.
• Compute the central angle of the curve use arc basis.
48°
• Compute the distance from the mid-point of the long
chord to the mid-point of the curve. 24.76m
• Compute the area bounded by the tangents and the
portion outside the central curve in square meters.
2162.79sq.m
 Seatwork
2. A simple curve connects two tangents AB and BC
with bearings N85°30’E and S68°30’E respectively. If
the stationing of the PI is 4+360.2 and the stationing
of PC is 4+288.4:
• Determine the radius. 311m
• Determine the external distance.8.18m
• Determine the middle ordinate.7.97m
• Determine the long chord distance.139.92m
• Determine the length of curve.141.13m
 Seatwork
3. The offset distance of the simple curve from
the PT to the tangent line passing through the PC
is equal to 120.20m. The stationing of PC is at
2+540.26. The simple curve has an angle of
intersection of 50°.
• Compute the degree of curvature. 3°24’
• Compute the external distance.34.79m
• Compute the length of the long chord.284.41m
 Assignment
2. A simple curve has a central angle of 40°. The
stationing at the point of curvature is equal to 10+060.
The offset distance from the PT to the tangent line
passing through the PC is 80m long.
• Compute the tangent distance of the curve.124.46m
• Compute the degree of curvature.3.35°
• The deflection angle from the tangent at the PC to
point B on the curve is equal to 8°, what is would be
the stationing of point B.10+155.49m
 Assignment
• 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.53°08’
• Compute the length of the curve.265.65m
• Determine the area enclosed by the
curve.380.54m
 Assignment
• The offset distance from PC to PT of a simple
curve is 18m. And the angle of intersection of
the tangents is 24 degrees. If the stationing of
PT is 45+158.32, what is the stationing of the
PI? 45+115.30