PART V I

COMPOUND CURVES

Any s i m p l e c i r c u l a r curve used i n a highway, r a i l w a y or canal presents

pro bl ems.
A t the P. C. t h e r e i s an instantaneous change o f d i r e c t i o n and the
magnitude of t h i s change increases as the r a d i u s decreases. I n t h e case of a
highway o r r a i l w a y , a v e h i c l e o r a t r a i n cannot change direction i n s t a n t a n -
eously. In the case o f the v e h i c l e , i t does not f o l l o w a t r u l y circular path
i n t h e f i r s t p a r t o f the curve. I n t h e case o f t h e t r a i n i t imposes forces
on t h e r a i l s which may cause them t o s h i f t . The magnitude o f the forces w i l l
increase as R decreases assuming t h a t the v e l o c i t y remains constant.
There i s a1 so t h e problem of super-elevating or " bankingu a simp1 e c i r c u l a r
curve. The g r e a t e r the design speed the g r e a t e r will be t h e need f o r super-
e l e v a t i o n . T h e o r e t i c a l l y , t h e r e should be no superelevation on one s i d e o f the
P. C. and t h e r e should be t h e r e q u i r e d superel e v a t i o n on t h e o t h e r , w i t h no
t r a n s i t i o n i n between. Because such a s i t u a t i o n i s i m p r a c t i c a l we have t o com-
promise and perhaps begin our superelevation before the P.C. i s reached so t h a t
t h e f i r s t p a r t o f t h e curve has, a t l e a s t , p a r t o f t h e r e q u i r e d superelevation.
The s i t u a t i o n becomes worse as R i s decreased, for a constant design speed.

Obviously what has been said i n the preceding t w o paragraphs applies a t

t h e P.T. a s w e l l .

On canals, t o o r a p i d a change in d i r e c t i o n could l e a d t o e r o s i o n problems.

Because the magnitude of the problems of change of d i r e c t i o n and super-

e l e v a t i o n increase as R decreases we can, a t l e a s t p a r t i a l l y , r e l i e v e the pro-
blem by combining a r c s o f simple curves of d i f f e r e n t r a d i u s as shown.

.
The curve shown i n Ffg I consi s t s of two o u t e r arcs, b o t h having the same
long radius and t h e same c e n t r a l angle. The c e n t r a l portion has s short r a d i u s .
I n t h i s case the curve i s symmetrical about the dotted Q and i s called a
Symmetrical ly Compounded Curve.
The long r a d i u s p o r t i o n between t h e P.C. and t h e P.C.C. ( P o i n t o f Compound
Curvature) a1 lows f o r a more gradual change i n direction and a more gradual
(and smoother) appl i c a t i o n of superel e v a t i o n so t h a t the s h o r t radius p o r t i o n
w i l l be safe. The second long r a d i u s p o r t i o n (from t h e second P.C.C. t o the
P.T.) a l l o w s f o r a gradual change back t o s t r a i g h t - l i n e c o n d i t i o n s beyond t h e
P. T.
Figure 1
We can have a multi-centred c u r v e as illustrated below*

T h i s i s a multi-centered

In terns o f r i d i n g and d r i v -
i n g qualities i t would be an
improvement over the
symnetri call y-compounded
curve i n Figure 1 .

Later we will discuss a better

s o l u t i o n to the problem-the
so-called t r a n s i t i o n s p i r a l

Figure 2

There are many applications o f mu1 ti-centered curves which are not
symmetrical-particularly i n various types o f grade-separation structures.
 Calculate the sub-tangent
distance, T, for t h e
symnetrically-compounded
curve shown above.

In t h i s case we can make use o f symnetry to set up a simple solution.

We can treat A00 and B0C each as separate self-contained curves. Through
B we can draw a 1 i n e V, BV2, I t o BO, which i s tangent t o both curves.

Figure 4
 AV, = VIB = TI

BVp = V2C = TZ
VIVp = TI + T2

Angle AVV2 =
180-A
--
- 600
2

Angle V V V - A 1 = 15'
1 2-
By deduction, Angle V, V2V = 180' - 60'-15' = 105'

T, = 500 x Tan 7'30' = 65.82

We can use the s i n l a w t o solve for V1 Y i n the t r i a n g l e VVIVZ

We can now try an example where the curve i s not symmetrical.

2. Example Two

Figure 5

Figure 6
 AVl = V I B = TI = 400 Tan 10' = 70.53
BV2 = V2C = T2 = 300 Tan l o 0 = 52.89

CV3 = V D = T = 200 Tan l o 0 = 35.27

3 3
In Figure 6
Angle

We must now calculate t h e 1engthsAV and VD by the method o f l a t i t u d e s

and departures.

The approach t o a l l such problems w i l l be the same. As the number of

different arcs i s increased the o n l y change will be t h e length o f the
l a t i t u d e s and departures problem.

4 Traverse Data Functions Latitudes Departures

'5; Lenqth Bearing . Cos Sin -I- - + I
VV1
- Ass. West 126.43

V1 V2 123.43 ~70'~ -34202 .93969 42.21 115.98 (4)

vzv3
88.16 ~ 5 0 ' ~ .64279 .76604 56.67 67.54
114.19 ~30'~ .86603 .30000 98.88 57.09
V3V
0 0 (3)
98.88 183.52
1
1. c Southings = 98.88 = c Northings

5'
A l l N o r t h i n g s are i n V3V = 98.88

2. V3V x Cos 30' 98.88

=
98.88 - 98.88 =
V3v = Cos 300
pp .86603 *

3. Dep. in V3V = 114.19 x .50000 =

4. c Eastings = 183.52 = c Westings

Balance o f Westings i s VV1

VV, = 183.52 - 57.09

Back Tangent = AV = VV1 + T1

=v
Forward Tangent =
,
VD =

VD
=

=
VV3 + T3
11419 + 35.27
149.45,

Note that, i n any compound curve, t h e curve must be run i n s e c t i o n s ,

the instrument occupying the beginning or end o f each section o f
different radius.
I t should also be noted t h a t i t i s necessary to p u t i n control
independent of the curve i n o r d e r t o isolate any errors t h a t may be
made. I n the case of the assymetrical compound curve in F i g u r e s 5 and 6
it i s highly desirable ( i n f a c t , essential) t h a t p o i n t s V1, B, V 2 , C and
V3 be 1ocated before one begins running the curve.

3. Example Three

Two tangents intersect a t n = 70°, P. I . = Stn 32 + 51 -82. Set

up the f i e l d notes f o r the f o l l o w i n g compound curve (symmetrical).

1 s t curve A = 20°, D = 8 ' ~ (20 rn chords)

2nd curve A = 300, D = 120R (10 m chords)
3rd curve A = 200, D = 80R (20 m chords)
Solution
20
1 s t curve R1 = 8 = 143.36 m
2 s i n (Z-)
R1 Tan A 20
TI = 1 = (143.36) t a n (-T) = 25.28 m
2

2nd curve R2 =
'to = 47.83 m
2
2 sin (2
1)
R2Tan A 2
T2 =
2 = (47.83) t a n 30 -- 12.82 rn

3rd curve = same as 1st curve

Figure 7
 Figure 8
AV, TI = 25.28m
I n A V1V2V

VIV2 = TI + T2 25.28 + 12.82

using s i n law

V,V = 44.93 m
. . Back tangent = AV1 + VIV = 25.28 + 44.93

Since curve is symmetrical the forward tangent = back tangent = 70.21 rn

 P.I. = Stn 32 t 51.82 Check
-B.T. 00 + 70.21 P.C. 31 + 81.51
P.C. 31 + 81.61 + L
CC
1 + 25.00
P,T, 33 + 06.61

P.T. 33 + 06.61
Figure 9
Def 1
Station Angle -

Curve #1 D = 8' .'. d = 4'

= (18.39)(8)(40 = 3°40140~
d2 = (11.61)(8)(40 = 2°19'20"
33 + 6.61 P.T. 3 5 ° ~ ~ ' =~ b~T "/ 2 curve 82 D = 12' . * . d = 60
33 + 00 33'40 ' 40" dl = (8.39)(12)/20 = 5°02t00"
32 + 80 29'40 ' 40" d2 = (6.61 )~12)/20= 3'58'00"
32 + 60 25'40 ' 40"
32 + 56.61 P.C .C. 2 25°00'0011 = ( " 1 + * ~ ~ / 2V' curve #3 D = '8 .' .d=4'
32 + 50 21 '02 '00" d l = (3.39) (8)/40? 0~40'40"
32 + 40 I 5'02' 00" d2 = (6.61)(8)/40= 1°19120"
32 + 31.61 P . C . C m l 10~00'00" = *1/2 4
-

32 + 20 7 ' 40 "
0
4
'
r
32 + 00 3 ' 40 "
0
4
'
31 + 81.61 P.C. oOOO'00"

NOTE: The checks o f P.C.Cm1,P.C.C. 2 ' and P.T. a r e essential!

 Field procedure f o r compound curves i s essentially the same a s for
simple curves. The transit has t o 6e set up a t P . C . C . 1 , and P.C.C.2 i n
order t o run i n the curves.
PROBLEMS

7. Determine the radius of the central curve o f a symmetrical compound

curve which passes through point "Au, and determine the s t a t i o n i n g
o f p o i n t "A".