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Spiral Curve

Spirals are used to overcome the abrupt change in curvature and superelevation that occurs between
tangent and circular curve. The spiral curve is used to gradually change the curvature and
superelevation of the road, thus called transition curve.

Elements of Spiral Curve

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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
θ = Spiral angle from tangent to any point on the spiral
θs = 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

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Formulas for Spiral Curves

Distance along tangent to any point on the spiral:
L5
Y =L−
40R2 Ls 2

At L = Ls, Y = Yc, thus,

Ls 3
Yc = Ls −
40R2

Offset distance from tangent to any point on the spiral:

L3
X=
6RLs

At L = Ls, X = Xc, thus,

Ls 2
Xc =
6R

Length of throw:
1 Ls 2
p= X =
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At L = Ls, θ = θs, thus,

Ls
θs =
2R

Deflection angle from TS to any point on the spiral:

1 L2
i= θ =
3 6RLs

At L = Ls, i = is, thus,

1 Ls
i= θ
3 s
=
6R

This angle is proportional to the square of its distance

i L2
= 2
is Ls

Tangent distance:
Ls I
Ts = + (R + P) tan
2 2

Angle of intersection of simple curve:

Ic = I − 2θs

External distance:
R+P
Es = −R
I
cos
2

Degree of spiral curve:

D L
=
DC Ls

Tags:
circular road circular curve curvature spiral curve spiral road superelevation
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Parabolic Curve
Inner Circle Reading of the Double Vernier of a Transit

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