Advance Engineering Surveying: Lecture 6: Transition and Combined Curve

ADVANCE ENGINEERING
SURVEYING
Lecture 6: Transition and Combined Curve
IRFAN KHALID
Dept. of Civil Engineering
FAST-NU
Transition curve
• Transition Curve:
• A curve of varying radius is
known as transition curve.
• The radius of curve varies from

infinity to a certain fixed value.
• A transition curve is provided on both ends of a circular curve.
• The curvature varies from zero at the tangent point to a definite

value just at the junction with the circular curve.
• Transition curves are provided in the railway tracks to ensure safe

running of trains.
Transition curve
Objectives
• Objectives of transition curve are
▫ To provide the superelevation gradually from zero at the tangent

point to the specified amount on the circular curve.
▫ To maintain a constant proportion between superelevations and

rate of change of curvature.
▫ To avoid overturning of trains.
▫ To minimize the wear and tear of rail section due to unusual

friction at point of turning.
Transition curve
Requirements of ideal transition curve
• Requirement of ideal transition curve
▫ The specific amount of superelevations should be attained exactly

at the junction with the circular curve.
▫ The rate of change of superelevations should be same as that of

curvature.
▫ The radius of transition curve should be equal to that of the
circular curve exactly at the junction.
▫ It should meet the tangent point tangentially

▫ It should meet the circular point tangentially
Combined or composite curve
• When transition curves are introduced at both ends of a circular

curve, the resulting curve is known as a combined or composite
curve.
Notation used with combined curves
• AB is the rear or back tangent

• BC is the forward tangent
• T1 is known as the first tangent point, the starting point of
the curve or the point of curve
• T2 is called the second point, finishing point of the curve, or
point of tangency
• The angle, Δ, is known as

deflection angle
• The angle, I, is known as
intersection angle
• The angle,Φ, is known as the
spiral angle
Notation used with combined curves
• The distance T1E or T2D is the length of the transition curve

• The arc EPD is the length of the circular curve
• T1’E1 or T2’D1 is known as shift of the curve
• BT1 or BT2 is the total tangent length
• The length of arc T1EPDT2 is the length of combined curve
• The angle (Δ-2 Φ) is known as central angle
Elements of combined curve
• The following points must be remembered while calculating the

necessary data for setting out the combined curve.
• (a). Length of the transition

curve V3
L
KR
K= rate of change of radial acceleration

L2
• (b). Shift of curve S
24 R
• (c). Tangent length of combined

curve (for cubic parabola)
BT1  BT1 'T1T1 '  OT1 ' tan   / 2   L / 2
BT1  ( R  S ) tan   / 2   L / 2
• (d). Spiral angle

  L /( 2 R) radian  180 L /  2R  deg rees
• (e). Central angle for circular curve

   2 
• (f). Length of circular curve
R   2  / 180
• (g). Length of combined curve
 T1 E1  E1 E2  E2T2
 L  R   2  / 180  L
 R    2  / 180  2 L
• (h). Chainage of point of commencement (T1)

=chainage of B –BT1
• (i). Chainage of E1
=chainage of T1+length of transition curve
• (j). Chainage of E2
=chainage of E1+length of circular curve
• (k). Chainage of point of tangency (T2)
=chainage of E2 +length of transition curve
• (l). Setting out transition curve

• (i). According to deflection angle, the deflection angle at any point
on transition curve is equal to
573l 2
deflection angle  min Where, l= distance from tangent point
RL
1
• Check: Total deflection angle  
3
• (m) setting out simple circular curve

• By calculating deflection angle, the deflection angle at any point on
circular curve is equal to
deflection angle  1719c min

• Check: R
Where, c= Peg interval
1
Total deflection angle  central angle
3
Numerical 10
• The two straights AB and BC intersect at chainage 1000m, the

deflection angle being 40 degrees. It is proposed to insert a circular
curve of radius 300m with a transition curve of length 90m at each
end. Calculating all data necessary for setting out the curve by
deflection angle method, taking peg interval of 20m. Prepare the
setting out table, taking least count of theodolite as 20 seconds
• Solution
• (a). Shift of curve
• (b). Tangent length

Numerical 10
• (c). Spiral angle
• (d). Central angle
• (e). Length of circular curve
• (f). Chainages
• Chainage of 1st TP=
• Chainage of 1st junction point=
• Chainage of 2nd junction point=
• Chainage of 2nd TP=
Numerical 10
• (c). Deflection angle for • Deflection angles of points

transition curve
Check total deflection angle  1/3  1/38o36'  2o52'

Numerical 10
• Setting out of simple circular curve

▫ Procedure is already covered in class
• Setting out table for 2nd transition curve
▫ Same like 1st transition curve
Numerical 11
• The two straights AB and BC intersect at chainage 1100m, the
deflection angle being 35 degrees. It is proposed to insert a
circular curve of radius 250m with a transition curve of length 75m
at each end. Calculating all data necessary for setting out the curve
by deflection angle method, taking peg interval of 20m. Prepare the
setting out table, taking least count of theodolite as 20 seconds

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ADVANCE ENGINEERING

Lecture 6: Transition and Combined Curve

• The radius of curve varies from

• A transition curve is provided on both ends of a circular curve.

• The curvature varies from zero at the tangent point to a definite

• Transition curves are provided in the railway tracks to ensure safe

▫ To provide the superelevation gradually from zero at the tangent

▫ To maintain a constant proportion between superelevations and

▫ To avoid overturning of trains.

▫ To minimize the wear and tear of rail section due to unusual

▫ The specific amount of superelevations should be attained exactly

▫ The rate of change of superelevations should be same as that of

▫ It should meet the tangent point tangentially

• When transition curves are introduced at both ends of a circular

• AB is the rear or back tangent

• The angle, Δ, is known as

• The distance T1E or T2D is the length of the transition curve

• The following points must be remembered while calculating the

• (a). Length of the transition

K= rate of change of radial acceleration

• (c). Tangent length of combined

• (d). Spiral angle

• (e). Central angle for circular curve

• (g). Length of combined curve

• (h). Chainage of point of commencement (T1)

• (l). Setting out transition curve

• (m) setting out simple circular curve

deflection angle  1719c min

• The two straights AB and BC intersect at chainage 1000m, the

• (b). Tangent length

• (c). Spiral angle

• (d). Central angle

• (e). Length of circular curve

• (c). Deflection angle for • Deflection angles of points

Check total deflection angle  1/3  1/38o36'  2o52'

• Setting out of simple circular curve

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