CE 303 Transportation Engineering

Highway Engineering
Lecture 14 - Transition Curves
14.1

Minimum Curvature for Standard Velocity

M
V
R

=
=
=
=

Mass of vehicle
Speed of vehicle
Radius of Road Curve
Coefficient of friction ( adhesion)
between wheels and road
(usually = 0.25)
See Fig. 14.1 for forces acting on a vehicle
moving at a speed of V on a circular curve
of radius R.
Sideslip will occur if
i.e. when

MV 2
Mg
R

V2
R
g

Minimum curvature

V2
g

Fig. 14.1 Forces acting on a vehicle at a curve on level ground

14.2 Super elevation ()
The effect of sideslip can also be
controlled by canting (raising) the outer
edge of the road or the track as shown in
Fig. 14.2 for any R and V.
To keep the vehicle steady without the
assistance of adhesion between wheels
and the road or track we can have
MV 2
cos M g sin
R
V2
i.e. tan
gR

V2
is also known as centripetal
gR

Fig. 14.2 Forces acting on a vehicle at a curve on sloping

ground
Super elevation on roadways is normally given by

ratio.
Here the adhesion () is also assisting to balance the
centrifugal force, thereby reducing the super elevation.

1
tan =

0.4V 2
gR

14.3 Transition Curves

A curve is necessary to smoothly change the direction of a moving vehicle. However, as the vehicle enters
or leaves a curve (a Simple Circular Curve) sudden change of direction implies sudden change of radial
acceleration,

V2
.
R

Fig. 14.3 Change of radial acceleration when entering a circular curve from a straight section.
Fig. 14.3 illustrates how this occurs. Here, the radial acceleration changes from 0 to

V2
R

suddenly at P

causing inconveniences to the passengers. This can be avoided by introducing a special curve called a
Transition Curve between the straight section (initial section) and the beginning of circular curve
followed by another transition curve between the final section and the end of circular curve as shown in
Fig. 14.4.
Circular curve
Tr
an

on
iti
s
an
Tr L

ec
ti
tia
ls

Fin

In
i

r=

on

sit
io
n

al
t
sec
ion

r=

Fig. 14.4 Formation of transition curves between straight and circular sections
The initial requirement in the design of a transition curve is to find length L of the transition curve. L
may be taken
a) As an arbitrary value(say 50 m)
b) Such that the cant is applied at a constant rate (say 0.1 m in 100m)
c) Such that the rate of change of radial acceleration equals a chosen value
(say 0.3 m/sec3)
When the rate of change of radial acceleration is the design criterion,
Given
L = Total length of transition curve
R = Radius of circular curve
V = Uniform velocity of vehicle
The radial acceleration before entering the transition curve is zero. The radial acceleration on the
circular curve

V2
.
R

 The time taken to travel along the transition curve

L
V

V2
( 0)
V3
R
a

L
LR
V

The rate of change of radial acceleration ( a ) is

L V

Ra

14.3.1 Design and Setting out of Transition Curves

= Deflection Angle

S = Shift =
S

Transition
B
T

L2
24R

T1

T2

R+
S

S
1

Fig. 14.5 Setting out of transition curves

As shown in Fig. 14.5, let TI and UI be straight sections of a road with a deflection angle of . Let the
straight sections be connected by a transition TT1 of length L1, a circular curve T1T2 of radius R and a
transition T2U of length L2 =L1. O is the centre of the circular curve. OB is a perpendicular from O on TI.
Circular curve is extended beyond T1 to meet OB at p. At B a circular curve with centre O can be drawn
touching TI at B. The difference between the radius of this circle and radius R of the circular curve is
called the shift and is denoted by S. 1 is the angle between OB and OT1.
It can be shown that

(1) S =

L2
24R

(2) IB = (R+S) tan

(3) BT =

L
2

(4) IT = (R+S) tan

L
+
2 2

14.3.2 To Select a Shape (Function) for the Transition Curve

ar
ul
ri c
C

t
hif
S
=

r
cula
Cir

T1
y

R1

1 O

P
Q1

Fig. 14.6
In Fig. 14.6 let X and Y be two points distance apart on the transition curve TT 1 of length L. The
tangent at X makes angle with direction of tangent through T(x direction of straight section). Similarly,
tangent at Y makes + with x direction. The radii at X and Y also make between them.
TX = ,
TT1 = L.
At T, = 0 and r =
At T1, = L and r = R
Note that the centrifugal force F at any point on the transition curve is proportional to the distance of that
point from the starting point of the curve.
F

MV 2
r

between T and T1

1
r

or r k a constant

r
RL
1

XY = r = =
=

r
RL
2
By integration, =
+C
2RL
2
at = 0 , = 0. C = 0
hence
2RL

At T1, k = RL. Also k = r

This is the equation of a clothoid spiral. It does not provide information for setting out the curve
conveniently. But modifying with some assumptions it is possible to obtain approximate functions close
to the clothoid spiral which can give setting out data.

14.3.3 Cubic Spiral

If we assume to be small (Note: in ordinary transition is very small)
y y
2

x
2RL
2
y .
2RL
y

or

3
6RL

This equation of a cubic spiral gives the offset distance (y) off the tangent line for any distance () along
the transition.
14.3.4 Relationship between and
2
(1
)
2
y
14 (1 )
It can be shown tan
2
x
3
35
6K(1 )
10
2

For small ,

2
,
2RL

Since =

2
6RL

Now deflection of points at distances from the tangent point T can be calculated.
14.3.5 Cubic Parabola
If we assume is small and also x
y

Thus,

3
6RL

x3
6RL

x3
. This is an equation for a Cubic Parabola.
6RL

Now it is possible to compute offset distances(y) off the tangent for distances(x) along the tangent.
14.3.6 Transition Curve Setting-out Data

2
2RL

Shift

at T1:

=
=
=

BP
BM-PM
NT1-(PO-MO)

L3
-(R-Rcos1)
6RL

L2
L

2RL 2R

BM = NT1 (maximum offset)

L3
{R R(1 1 1 ....)}
6RL
2!
4!
Ignoring higher powers than 12
2
R 1
L3
S =

6RL
2
=

Now Q1T1

L3
R L2 2
(
)
6RL 2 2RL
L2
L2

6R 8R
L2
S
24R

PT1

= R.1 = R.

L2
L

2RL 2

Q1 is the mid point of the transition curve.

Since the deviation of Q1 from the tangent is small, TQ1 TB =

L
2

From theory of simple circular curves

IB = (R+S) tan

TI = IB + TB

TI = (R+S) tan

L
+
2
2

Now you can set-out

Cubic Spiral
with Theodolite(), Chain() and Tape(y)
Cubic Parabola with Chain(x) and Tape(y)
Either calculate

3
6RL

or

x3
6RL

or

2
6RL

Example 1: Calculate the setting out data for a 75.0 m transition curve to connect an 8 circular curve
joining two straights with an angle of deflection 20 using 15 m chords.
a) To calculate R and S
100
100
= 716.20 m
8(
)
180
L2
75 2
S=
=
= 0.327 m
24R 24 716.2
R

b) To calculate Tangent length

TL = (R+S) tan

20 L
+
2
2

= 163.843 m
c) To calculate and tabulate the deflection angles and deflection offsets
2
(
)
2
S =
2RL
(rad)
3
3
6RL
2 180
572.96 2
.
60min
min
6RL
RL
3
and y
6RL

R = 716.2 m,
/m
15
30
45

L = 75 m,

= 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 m

2 /m2
225
900
2025

572.962
RL

2 24
9 36
21 36

3
/m
6RL

0.010
0.084
0.283

60
75

3600
5625

38 24
60 00

0.670
1.309

Example 2: Two straights having W.C.B 840115 and 1431545 are to be connected by two cubic
parabolas and a circular curve. The curve is to give a maximum speed of 110km/h. The maximum
centrifugal ratio should be 0.25. The maximum rate of change of radial acceleration is 0.3 m/sec 3. If the
chainage of the intersection point is 9713.481 m determine the chainages of the tangent point on the
straight and of the junction of circular arc and the transition.

Fig. 14.7
= 1431545 - 840115

= 591430

Centrifugal ratio

V
0.25
Rg

110 10 3

3600

V2

0.25g
0.25 9.81

2max + =

Rmin = 380.69 m
= - 2max

Rate of change of radial acceleration ( a )

0.3 m/sec3
a
=
a

V3
0.3
RL

249.8 m 250 m
Total length of the curve = 2L + R ( - 2max)
max =

L
max = 2R

250
(rad) = 0.328 rad
2 380.69
L
= (R+S) tan +
2 2
250
59 14 ' 30 ''
)+
= (380.69 + 250) tan (
2
2

L2
2RL

Tangent length

= 483.585 m
S
S

L2
24R
250 2
=
= 6.841 m
24 380.69 7

) ta
+S
R
{(

x
T

}
L/2
+
/2

y
L

T1

Mid

max

T2

R
max

Fig. 14.8
Setting out L = ?
max = ?
Chainages T, T1, Mid,, T2, U ?

=?

S=?

IT = ?

Transition curves connecting compound curves

1. Curves of the same hand
2. Curves of the opposite hand

Fig. 14.9 Same Hand

Fig. 14.10 Opposite Hand

O1
O2

P3

R2
R1

S3
R1 > R2

P2

S2

(l = L2 - L1)

P1
S1
C1

C1
C2

C2

Fig. 14.11
2

S1

L1
24R 1

L1
2

C1 =

L
S2 2
24R 2
x = C2 C1

L2
2
y = R1 + S1- (R2 + S2)

C2 =

O1Q = O1O2 + O2P + PQ

R1 = (x2 + y2)1/2 + R2 + S3
S3 = [(C2 C1)2 + {R1 + S1- (R2 + S2)}2]1/2 (R2 R1)
T2

O1

L2
1

O2
2

P4

R2

P3

P
R1

P2
P1

T1

L1

t1
t1+L1/2

Fig. 14.12
u = rate of change of radial acceleration
L=

V3
aR

LR =

V3
= a constant
a

RL is a constant for all three transitions.

9

t2+L

/2

m3
6RL

( - m) 3
6RL

( -m)

P3
P

P2

Fig. 14.13
S3 = a + b

S3 =

(3 32 m 3m 2 )
6RL
( 32 6m)
=
6RL

dS 3
dm
S3 is minimum along PQ (on O1O2 produced)
at PQ when a + b = S3,
( 32 6m)
=0
6RL

m =

The transition is bisected by the clearance S3

a=b=

S3
3

2
48RL
3
S3
24RL

Tangent lengths
From compound curve equations
t1Sin = (R2 R1)(1-Cos2) + R1(1-Cos)
t2Sin = (R1 R2)(1-Cos1) + R2(1-Cos)
Replace R1 with (R1 + S1) and R2 with (R2+S2) and apply in transitions.
We have,
t1Sin = (R2+S2) - (R1 + S1) Cos + (R1 R2 - S3) Cos2
t2Sin = (R1+S1) - (R2 + S2) Cos - (R1 R2 - S3) Cos1
L
L
T1I = t1 + 1 , T2I = t2 + 2
2
2
Through chainages
L1
L

Arc P3P4 = R2 (2)rad - 2

2 2
2 2
Total curve length = T1P1 + P1P2 + P2P3+ P3P4+ P4T2
L
L

= L1 + [R1 (1)rad - 1 ]+ + [R2 (2)rad - 2 ]+ L2

2 2
2 2
L L
= 1 2 + R1 (1)rad + R2 (2)rad
2
2
Example 3: = 750000
2 = 300000
R1 = 300.00 m
R2 = 250.00 m
V = 80 km/h
a = 0.3 m/s3
Chainage I = 872.700 m
(Transition curve with same hand)
10

Arc P1P2 = R1 (1)rad -

1 = - 2 = 75 -30 = 450000
80 10 3 3
(
)
V3
=146.319 m
L2
60 60
aR
0.3 250
RL = 146.319 x 250 =36579.79 m2
L1 =

36579.79
= 121.933 m
300
2

L1
L2
121.933 2
146.319 2

= 2.065 m
= 3.568 m
2
24R 1 24 300
24R 2 24 250
= L2- L1 = 146.319 121.933 = 24.386 m

S1

(Shift) S3 =

24.386 3
24.386 3

= 0.017 m
24RL
24 36579.79

Now calculate offsets to the curve from tangents using y

x3
for transition and from usual offsets or
6RL

deflection angles for circular sections.

Curves of Opposite Hand

T1
O1
x

R1
1

P2

I1
1

P1

S1

S3 = (a+b)

b Q

S2

P3

I2
2

P4
R2

O2

T2

Fig. 13.14
P2Q = m ,
3

m
a
6RL

QP3 = -m
( - m) 3
(3 32 m 3m 2 )
,
b
,
S3 = a + b =
6RL
6RL
dS 3
m = 2
at Q
= 32 6m = 0
dm
3
S
3
S3
a=b= 3
24RL
2
48RL

Through chainage
T1T2 = T1P1 + P1P2 + P2P3+ P3P4+ P4T2
= L1 + R11 + + R22 + L2
11

= L1 + (R11 -

L1
L

) ++ (R22 - 2 ) + L2
2 2
2 2

Tangent length
1 L1

= I1Q
2
2

L
T2I2 = (R2 + S2)tan 2 2 = I2Q
2
2
2
2 1/2
Note : S3 = (x + y ) (R1 + R2)
= [(C1 + C2)2 + (R1 + S1 + R2+ S2)2]1/2 (R1 + R2)
L
Since x = C1 + C2
C1 = 1
2
L2
y = (R1 + S1) + (R2+ S2)
C2 =
2

T1I1 = (R1 + S1)tan

Example 4: As part of a highway realignment it is required to join two circular curves with a cubic
parabola transition. The design speed is 90 km/h with a rate of gain of radial acceleration of 0.3 m/s 3.
The two existing radii are 300 m and 500 m which subtend 600 and 450 respectively. Calculate
a) The length of the transition curves
b) Shifts
c) Setting out data for standard curve of 20 m of through chainage
Assume first tangent point on the straight to be 1234.620 m.

12