SITE SURVEYING

Curve Ranging
1
Curve Ranging
Scope of Coverage
1. Objectives
2. Examples of Curves
3. Fundamental Geometrical Theorems
4. Curve Elements
5. Designation of Curves
6. Setting Up Procedures (Calculations)

2
1. Objectives
After studying this Chapter, the students
should be able to make the necessary
calculations to fix the positions of points
forming a Horizontal Curve.
3
2. Examples of Curves
In construction surveying, curves have to
be set out on the ground for a variety of
purposes:
1. Curve may form the major part of a roadway,
2. Curve may form a kerb line at a junction, or
3. Curve may form the shape of an ornamental
rose bed in a town centre.

4
3. Fundamental Geometrical Theorems
What are Tangents to a Circle?
What are Angle of Deflection?
What are Angle of Curvature?
Cyclic Quadrilateral
Isosceles Triangles
Congruent Triangles
What are the angles encountered & what are their
relationship?

5
3. Fundamental Geometrical
Theorems
6
T
1

T
2

I

Tangent
Angle of Deflection ,
Angle of Deviation or
Angle of Intersection.
O
3. Fundamental Geometrical
Theorems
7
O
T
1

T
2

I


Cyclic Quadrilateral
(Q T
1
I T
2
)
3. Fundamental Geometrical
Theorems
8
O
O

T
1

T
2

I


OT
1
T
2
is an isosceles triangle.
3. Fundamental Geometrical
Theorems
9
O
T
1

T
2

I


O T
1
I and O I T
2
are
congruent triangles
O

3. Fundamental Geometrical
Theorems
10
O
T
1

T
2

I



+ = 180

3. Fundamental Geometrical
Theorems
11
O
T
1

T
2

I

/2
O
/2
4. Curve Elements
1. Straights: What are the Straights?
2. Intersection Point, I.P.?
3. Angle of Deviation (Angle of Deflection, or
Angle of Intersection).
4. Radius of Curve
Usually a multiple of 50 m.
5. Tangent Length
6. Long Chord
7. Major Offset
12
4. Fundamental Geometrical
Theorems
13
O
O

T
1

T
2

I


The Straights mean the Tangents
Intersection point, i.e. I.P.
Radius of Curve
Long Chord
4. Fundamental Geometrical
Theorems
14
O
O

T
1

T
2

I


Tangent Length
Major Offset
5. Designation of Curves
In UK, curves are designated by the length of the
radius.
The radius is usually in multiples of 50 m.
Curves can also be designated by the degrees
subtended at the centre by an arc 100 m long.
The Degree of Curvature is given as a No. of whole
degrees.
The Degree of Curvature may be measured in Degrees
or Radians.
15
6. Setting Up Procedures (Calculations)
1. Small Radius Curves:
(a) Finding the Centre
(b) Offset from the tangent
2. Large Radius Curves:
(a) Setting by Tangential Angles
(b) Using 2 Theodolites
(c) Setting Out by Co-ordinates

16
17
O
T
1
I
T
2
O
I T
1

T
2



R
R
R
Minor Road
Major Road
C
C
CH 0 m
(of minor road)
Fig. 12.10
Small Radius Curve
by finding the centre.
18
I
T
1

T
2

B
C
D
c
1

c
2

2

c
3

c
4

4

/2


O
Fig. 12.15(a)
Large Radius Curve:
Setting by Tangential Angles
19
T
1

B
O
X

1

c
1

Fig. 12.15 (b)
Large Radius Curve:
Method 2(b)- Using Two Theodolites
20
A
B
T
1
T
2
C
I
D

1

Fig. 12.17
21
A
I
O
T
1

T
2
CH 75
4.5
B
CH 0
105.260 E
352.150 N
CH 20
CH 30
CH 40 (X)
Tangent Length
22.510 m
CH 60 (Y)
CH 80
CH 100
S
Survey Station.
148.500 E
370.010 N
R = 572.960 m
Fig. 12.18
WCB
40 00 00
WCB
44 30 00
1
2
1.5
4.5
Large radius Curve: by Co-ordinates
6.1- Small Radius Curves
Method 1: Finding the Centre.
In Fig. 12.10, kerbs have to be laid at the
roadway junction.
Consider the right-hand curve.
The deviation angle is measured from the plan
and the tangent lengths I T
1
and I T
2
(= R tan /2)
calculated.
The procedure for setting the curve is then as
follows: -------
22
23
O
T
1
I
T
2
O
I T
1

T
2



R
R
R
Minor Road
Major Road
C
C
CH 0 m
(of minor road)
Fig. 12.10
Procedure for setting out:
1. From I, measure back along the straights
the distance I T
1
and I T
2
.
2. Hammer in pegs at those points & mark the
exact positions of T
1
and T
2
by nails.
3. Hook a steel tape over each nail and mark
the centre O at the point where the tapes
intersect when reading R. Hammer in a peg
and mark the centre exactly with a nail.

24
Procedure for setting out:
4. Any point on the curve is established by
hooking the tape over the peg O and
swinging the radius.
This method is widely used where the
radius of curvature is less than 30 m.
25
*Curve Composition*
In setting out large radius curves, or in some
cases small radius curves, pegs are set at
regular intervals around the curve.

The interval is commonly 10 or 20 m & is
measured as a RUNNING CHAINAGE, from
the zero chainage point (CH 0 m) of the road
system.
26
Curve Composition
It would be very unlikely that either
tangent point of the curve would coincide
with a chainage which is at an exact tape
length!

So what shall we do then ?

Refer to Fig. 12.14.

27
28
T
1

T
2

I
A
B
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
CH 126.000
CH 216.757
400 m Radius
CH 171.574
to CH 0
point
13

Initial
sub-
chord
Standard
Sub-
chords
Final
Sub-
chord
Fig. 12.14
Fig. 12.14
The straights AI & IB deviate by 13 at I, the I.P.
where the chainage is 171.574 m.
Tangent lenghts IT
1
& IT
2


So chainage T
1

Curve length

So chainage T
2

29
Fig. 12.14
The last peg on the straight, measured at 20
m intervals from A, occurs at CH 120 m.
So the 1
st
peg on the curve, at CH 140 m, lies
at a distance of:
140 (-) 126 = 14 m
from tangent point T
1
.

This short chord is called the initial sub-
chord.
30
Fig. 12.14
Thereafter, pegs are placed at standard chord
intervals of 20 m occur at CH 160, 180 & 200
m.
The final tangent point T
2
is reached at
216.757 m;
So the final chord is:
216.757 (-) 200.000 = 16.757 m
This short chord is called the final sub-
chord.

31
Fig. 12.14: Summary
Summarizing, the chord composition is derived
as follows:
1) Chainage T
1

2) CH at 1
st
peg on curve
3) So initial sub-chord
4) CH at last peg on curve
5) So No. of standard chords
6) Chainage T2
7) So final sub-chord

32
Fig. 12.14: Summary
In setting out large radius curve, the chords
must be almost equal to the arcs that they
subtend.
An accuracy of about 1 part in 10,000 is
obtainable, provided the chord length does
not exceed 1/20
th
of the length of the radius,
i.e.
< R/20.
33
Method of
Setting out Large Radius Curve
Method 2 (a)- Setting by Tangential Angles:
This is the common method of setting out large
radius curves when accuracy is required.
It uses tape and theodolite.
In Fig. 12.15, the tangent point T
1
at the
beginning of the curve has been established.

34
Setting by Tangential Angles
BC and CD are equal standard chords, c
2
and c
3

chosen such that their length is < R/20.

TB is the Initial Sub-Chord, c
1
is shorter than c
2
& c
3
because the CH of T
1
is irregular.

c
4
is the Final Sub-Chord & is shorter than c
2
&
c
3
too.

35
Setting by Tangential Angles:
Tangential Angles:
In Fig. 12.15, angles
1
,
2
,
3
&
4
are the angles
by which the curve deflects to the right or left.
They are the tangential angles which are also
known as chord angles or deflection angles.
They are more commonly known as the
Deflection Angles.
Their values must be calculated in order to set
out the curve.
36
Calculation of Deflection Angles
In Fig. 12.15 (a), angle IT
1
B is the angle between T
1
I
& chord T
1
B.

Angle T
1
OB is the angle at the centre subtended by
chord T
1
B.
So angle IT
1
B = angle T
1
OB =
1
37
38
I
T
1

T
2

B
C
D
c
1

c
2

2

c
3

c
4

4
/2


O
Fig. 12.15(a)
39
T
1

B
O
X

1

c
1

Fig. 12.15 (b)
Refer to Fig. 12.15(b):
OX is the perpendicular
bisector of chord T
1
B.
So, angle T
1
OX = angle XOB = 1
In triangle T
1
OX,
sin T
1
OX = T
1
X / T
1
O
= {c
1
/ 2} / R
= c
1
/ 2R

40
Refer to Fig. 12.15(b)..
The value of any deflection angle (
1
,
2
,
3
&

4
) can similarly be found & the formula can
be written in general terms as:
sin = c/2R (1)
41
Eg. 9 (setting by tangential angles):
1. Two straights AI and IB have bearings of 80
& 110 respectively.
2. They are to be joined by a circular curve of
300 m radius.
3. The chainage of intersection point I is
872.485 m (Fig. 12.16)
4. Calculate the data for setting out the curve
by 20 m standard chords.
42
Fig. 12.16
43
30

O
N
A
B
I
T
1 T
2
N 80 E
S 70 E
Radius
= 300 m
30
Table 12.2
44
Chord No. Length
(m)
Chainage
(m)
Deflection
Angle
Tangential
Angle