Compound Curves

A compound curve consists of two (or more) circular curves between two main tangents
joined at point of compound curve (PCC). Curve at PC is designated as 1 (R1, L1, T1, etc)
and curve at PT is designated as 2 (R2, L2, T2, etc).

Elements of compound curve

PC = point of curvature
PT = point of tangency

PI = point of intersection
PCC = point of compound curve
T1 = length of tangent of the first curve
T2 = length of tangent of the second curve
V1 = vertex of the first curve
V2 = vertex of the second curve
I1 = central angle of the first curve
I2 = central angle of the second curve

I = angle of intersection = I1 + I2
Lc1 = length of first curve
Lc2 = length of second curve
L1 = length of first chord
L2 = length of second chord
L = length of long chord from PC to PT
T1 + T2 = length of common tangent measured from V1 to V2
= 180 - I
x and y can be found from triangle V1-V2-PI.

L can be found from triangle PC-PCC-PT

Finding the stationing of PT

Given the stationing of PC
Sta PT=Sta PC+Lc1+Lc2Sta PT=Sta PC+Lc1+Lc2
Given the stationing of PI

Sta PT=Sta PIxT1+Lc1+Lc2Sta PT=Sta PIxT1+Lc1+Lc2

Reversed Curve
Reversed curve, though pleasing to the eye, would bring discomfort to motorist
running at design speed. The instant change in direction at the PRC brought some
safety problems. Despite this fact, reversed curves are being used with great
success on park roads, formal paths, waterway channels, and the like.

Elements of Reversed Curve

PC = point of curvature
PT = point of tangency
PRC = point of reversed curvature
T1 = length of tangent of the first curve
T2 = length of tangent of the second curve
V1 = vertex of the first curve
V2 = vertex of the second curve
I1 = central angle of the first curve
I2 = central angle of the second curve
Lc1 = length of first curve
Lc2 = length of second curve
L1 = length of first chord
L2 = length of second chord
T1 + T2 = length of common tangent measured from V1 to V2

Finding the stationing of PT

Given the stationing of PC
Sta PT=Sta PC+Lc1+Lc2Sta PT=Sta PC+Lc1+Lc2
Given the stationing of V1

Sta PT=Sta V1T1+Lc1+Lc2Sta PT=Sta V1T1+Lc1+Lc2

Reversed Curve for Nonparallel Tangents

The following figure is an example reversed curves of unequal radii
connecting non-parallel tangents.

Reversed Curve for Parallel Tangents

The figure below is an example of reversed curves of unequal radii
connecting two parallel roads.

Terminologies in Simple Curve

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.
L = Length of chord from PC to PT. Point Q as shown below is the midpoint of L.
Lc = Length of curve from PC to PT. Point M in the the figure is the midpoint of Lc.
E = External distance, the nearest distance from PI to the curve.
m = Middle ordinate, the distance from midpoint of curve to midpoint of chord.
I = Deflection angle (also called angle of intersection and central angle). It is the angle
of intersection of the tangents. The angle subtended by PC and PT at O is also equal
to I, where O is the center of the circular curve from the above figure.
x = offset distance from tangent to the curve. Note: x is perpendicular to T.
= offset angle subtended at PC between PI and any point in the curve
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.
Sub chord = chord distance between two adjacent full stations.
Sharpness of circular curve
The smaller is the degree of curve, the flatter is the curve and vice versa. The sharpness

of simple curve is also determined by radius R. Large radius are flat whereas small
radius are sharp.

Formulas for Circular Curves

The formulas we are about to present need not be memorized. All we need is geometry
plus names of all elements in simple curve. Note that we are only dealing with circular
arc, it is in our great advantage if we deal it at geometry level rather than memorize
these formulas. For easy reference, the figure shown in the previous page will be shown
again here.

Length of tangent, T
Length of tangent (also referred to as subtangent) is the distance from PC to PI. It is the
same distance from PI to PT. From the right triangle PI-PT-O,
tanI2=TRtanI2=TR
T=RtanI2T=RtanI2

External distance, E
External distance is the distance from PI to the midpoint of the curve. From the same
right triangle PI-PT-O,
cosI2=RR+EcosI2=RR+E
R+E=RcosI2R+E=RcosI2
E=RsecI2RE=RsecI2R

Middle ordinate, m
Middle ordinate is the distance from the midpoint of the curve to the midpoint of the
chord. From right triangle O-Q-PT,
cosI2=RmRcosI2=RmR

RcosI2=RmRcosI2=Rm
m=RRcosI2m=RRcosI2
Length of long chord, L
Length of long chord or simply length of chord is the distance from PC to PT. Again,
from right triangle O-Q-PT,
sinI2=L/2RsinI2=L/2R

RsinI2=L/2RsinI2=L/2
L=2RsinI2L=2RsinI2
Length of curve, Lc
Length of curve from PC to PT is the road distance between ends of the simple curve. By
ratio and proportion,
LcI=2R360LcI=2R360
Lc=RI180Lc=RI180

An alternate formula for the length of curve is by ratio and proportion with its degree of
curve.

LcI=1stationDLcI=1stationD
Lc=1stationIDLc=1stationID
SI units: 1 station = 20 m

Lc=20IDLc=20ID

English system: 1 station = 100 ft

Lc=100IDLc=100ID
If given the stationing of PC and PT

Lc=Stationing of PT Stationing of PCLc=Stationing of PT Stationing of PC

Degree of curve, D
The degree of curve is the central angle subtended by an arc (arc basis) or chord (chord
basis) of one station. It will define the sharpness of the curve. In English system, 1
station is equal to 100 ft. In SI, 1 station is equal to 20 m. It is important to note that 100
ft is equal to 30.48 m not 20 m.
Arc Basis
In arc definition, the degree of curve is the central angle angle subtended by one
station of circular arc. This definition is used in highways. Using ratio and
proportion,

1stationD=2R3601stationD=2R360
SI units (1 station = 20 m):

20D=2R36020D=2R360
English system (1 station = 100 ft):

100D=2R360100D=2R360

Chord Basis
Chord definition is used in railway design. The degree of curve is the central angle
subtended by one station length of chord. From the right triangle shaded in green
color,

sinD2=halfstationRsinD2=halfstationR
SI units (half station = 10 m):

sinD2=10RsinD2=10R
English system (half station = 50 ft):

sinD2=50RsinD2=50R

Minimum Radius of Curvature

Vehicle traveling on a horizontal curve may either skid or overturn off the road due
to centrifugal force. Side friction f and superelevation e are the factors that will
stabilize this force. The superelevation e = tan and the friction factor f = tan
(phi). The minimum radius of curve so that the vehicle can round the curve
without skidding is determined as follows.

From the force polygon shown in the right

tan(+)=CFWtan(+)=CFW

tan(+)=Wv2gRWtan(+)=Wv2gRW
tan(+)=Wv2WgRtan(+)=Wv2WgR
tan(+)=v2gRtan(+)=v2gR
The quantity v2/gR is called impact factor.
Impact factor

if=v2gRif=v2gR
Back to the equation tan ( + phi) = v2/gR
tan(+)=v2gRtan(+)=v2gR
tan+tan1tantan=v2gRtan+tan1tantan=v2gR
Recall that tan=etan=e and tan=ftan=f
e+f1ef=v2gRe+f1ef=v2gR
But ef0ef0, thus
e+f=v2gRe+f=v2gR
Radius of curvature with R in meter and v in meter per second

R=v2g(e+f)R=v2g(e+f)
For the above formula, v must be in meter per second (m/s) and R in meter (m).
For v in kilometer per hour (kph) and R in meter, the following convenient
formula is being used.
R=(vkmhr)2(1000mkm1 hr3600 sec)2g(e+f)R=(vkmhr)2(1000mkm1 hr3600 s
ec)2g(e+f)

R=v2(13.6)2g(e+f)R=v2(13.6)2g(e+f)
R=v2(3.62)g(e+f)R=v2(3.62)g(e+f)
R=v2(3.62)(9.80)(e+f)R=v2(3.62)(9.80)(e+f)
Radius of curvature with R in meter and v in kilometer per hour
R=v2127(e+f)R=v2127(e+f)
Using the above formula, R must be in meter (m) and v in kilometer per hour
(kph).