Bungag, Jediann M.

October 17, 2015

CE121-C1

Engr. G. Alviento

Route surveying
A route survey is a data collection operation to gather information about the
proposed route of a roadway, utility pipe, or railway.

Types of Curves
Simple Curve
A simple arc provided in the road to impose a curve between the two straight
lines.

Elements 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.

Equation to use:
T = R tan 0.5I
E = R sec 0.5I R
m = R R cos 0.5I
L = 2R sin 0.5I
LC = RI / 180o
LC = 20I / D
LC = Sta PT Sta PC
20 / D = 2R / 360o
sin 0.5D = 10 / R

Example of Simple Curve

Pan Philippine Highway (Bocaue, Bulacan)

Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (Angeles, Pampanga)

Route 52 (West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA)

Compound Curve

Combination of two simple curves combined together to curve in the same

direction.

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

Sta PT = Sta PC + LC1 + LC2
Sta PT = Sta PI x T1 + LC1 + LC2

Example of Compound Curve

TPLEx (Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija)

Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway

M9 (Linlithgow EH49, UK)

Reverse Curve
Combination of two simple curves combined together to curve in the same
direction.

Elements of Reverse 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

Sta PT = Sta PC + LC1 + LC2
Sta PT = Sta V1 T1 + LC1 + LC2

Example of Reverse Curve

Marcos Highway (Marikina-Infanta Highway)

Governors Drive (Dasmarinas, Cavite)

Highway 401 (Muirkirk, Ontario, Canada)

Transition or Spiral Curve

A curve that has a varying radius. Its provided with a simple curve and between
the simple curves in a compound curve.

Fig: A Spiral Curve Diagram

Elements of Spiral Curve

TS = Tangent to spiral
SC = Spiral to curve
CS = Curve to spiral
ST = Spiral to tangent
LT = Long tangent
ST = Short tangent
R = Radius of simple curve
Ts = Spiral tangent distance
Tc = Circular curve tangent
L = Length of spiral from TS to
any point along the spiral
Ls = Length of spiral
PI = Point of intersection
I = Angle of intersection
Ic = Angle of intersection of the
simple curve
p = Length of throw or the distance from tangent that the circular curve has
been offset
X = Offset distance (right angle distance) from tangent to any point on the
spiral
Xc = Offset distance (right angle distance) from tangent to SC
Y = Distance along tangent to any point on the spiral
Yc = Distance along tangent from TS to point at right angle to SC

Es = External distance of the simple curve

= Spiral angle from tangent to any point on the spiral
s = Spiral angle from tangent to SC
i = Deflection angle from TS to any point on the spiral, it is proportional to the
square of its distance
is = Deflection angle from TS to SC
D = Degree of spiral curve at any point
Dc = Degree of simple curve

Equation to use:
Y = L L5 / 40R2LS2
X = L3 / 6RLS
p = 0.25XC = LS2 / 24R
= L2 / 2RLS
S = LS / 2R
i = / 3 = LS / 6R
iLS2 = isL2
TS = 0.5LS + (R + P)tan 0.5I
IC = I 2S
ES = (R + P) / cos 0.5I R
DLS = DCL

Example of Spiral Curve

Kennon Road (Tuba, Benguet)

Siquijor Circumferential Road (Siquijor)

95 (Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia)

Symmetrical Vertical Curve

Typically, vertical curves are in the shape of an equal-tangent parabola (aka
symmetric). This means the tangent length from VPC to VPI equals the tangent length
from VPI to VPT. It is not required for the VPC and the VPT to be at the same elevation
to have a symmetrical vertical curve.

Fig: A Symmetrical Vertical Curve Diagram

Equations to use:
A = g2 g 1
K=L/A
r = A / 100L
e = AL / 800
y = 4ex2 / L2 = rx2 / 2 = Ax2 / 200L
Ex = EVPC + g1x + rx2 / 2
x1 = - g1 / r
Et = EVPC - g12 / 2r

Examples of Symmetrical Vertical Curve

Buntun Bridge (Tuguegarao, Cagayan Valley)

Agas Agas Bridge (Southern Leyte)

Rialto Bridge (Venice, Italy)

Unsymmetrical Vertical Curves

An unsymmetrical curve is a curve in which the tangent length from VPC to VPI
does not equal the tangent length from VPI to VPT. As already mentioned, symmetrical
vertical curves are more common than unsymmetrical vertical curves, but since the
designer is likely to encounter both, equations for both situations are provided.

Fig: An Unsymmetrical Vertical Curve Diagram

Equations to use:
A = g2 g 1
K=L/A
r = A / 100L
r1 = Al2 / 100Ll1
r2 = Al1 / 100Ll2
e = Al1l2 / 200L = r1l12 / 2 = r2l22 / 2
Ex1 = EVPC + g2x + r1x2 / 2
Ex2 = EVPC - g2x + r2x2 / 2
xt1 = - g1 / r1
xt1 = - g2 / r2
Et1 = EVPC - g12 / 2r1
Et2 = EVPC g22 / 2r2

Examples of Unsymmetrical Vertical Curve

Python Bridge (Amsterdam, the Netherlands)