MAPÚA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Muralla St. Intramuros, Manila

School of Civil, Environmental and Geological Engineering

FIELD WORK NO. 1

Incremental Chord and Deflection Angle Method

COURSE AND SECTION: CE121-0F/B1

SUBMITTED BY:
SN:

NAME: Fernando, Elline Joy U. STUDENT NUMBER: 2014108454

GROUP NO: 7 CHIEF OF PARTY: Pagdulagan, Ana

DATE OF FIELDWORK: October 25, 2016

DATE OF SUBMISSION: November 8, 2016

SUBMITTED TO:
GRADE
PROFESSOR: ENGR. BIENVENIDO CERVANTES
Discussion

This particular field work tasked us to layout a simple curve using the
theodolite and the incremental chord and deflection angles. We
went to the fieldwork knowing all the necessary things needed to
accomplish the fieldwork. It is quite fast to do the fieldwork because
we already have the data that we needed. The only thing we need
to do is layout all the data. Actually the hardest part is the
computation of the values. The problem in the field is that the
weather. It consumes a lot of time and energy because it’s sunny,
so it is advisable to finish fast the fieldwork fast without errors.

We are not familiar or not so sure on what we are doing. We didn’t

read and understand well the procedures because we wanted to
finish it fast ‘coz it’s too hot that time. Instead of making the
deflection angle with respect to the backward tangent, we based it
on the extended line of each point of the sub chord. The first two
points are nearly accurate but as it goes on, the curve formed
already passed the midpoint but is not yet going downward
because ideally it needs to intersect the point of tangency in the
forward tangent. At that time, we knew that something on our
method was wrong so we read the procedures stated on the
manual.

At our second trial, we made sure that we follow the procedures on

the manual. As we label each point, measures the deflection angle
from the back tangent, we get excited because little by little it
slowly forms a simple curve. Locating the last point of the curve, it
did not coincide with the point of tangency so it means that we
have an error but it is just little because the distance from the point
of tangency to the last point of the chord is not more than 0.1
meters.
Conclusion

In this fieldwork, we are tasked to layout a simple curve using the

Incremental chord and the deflection angle method. This fieldwork is
different from our previous fieldworks because we didn’t find
elevation, bearing and distance. We just layout the values that we
computed and used theodolite to accurately position the chord to
the specific deflection angle that we solved.

Before going to the field, the data must be all set already meaning it
is well-computed without error. All the data must be correct or else
the whole fieldwork will be a failure because the success of the
fieldwork is reliant on the computed data and how we are going to
layout it in the ground.

It is also important to always refer to the procedures as stated in the

manual if not sure on what you are doing. By that, you will save time
and energy because you only need one trial that is accurate as
possible.

Overall, the fieldwork is fascinating. Before, we are only limited of

measuring distance, elevation, angles and directions but now, we
are competent to layout a simple curve. The heat of the sun didn’t
stop us from doing the field work, but frankly its little bit annoying,
because we love learning specifically surveying. This knowledge will
be a great help to us engineers to be able to design highways that is
safe.
Relevant Research

Deflection angles and chords.

It would be impracticable to swing such radii

with a tape. In usual practice, the stakeout of
a long-radius curve involves a combination of
turning deflection angles and measuring the
length of chords (C, Cl, or CZ as appropriate).
A transit is set up at the PC, a sight is taken
along the tangent, and each point is located
by turning deflection angles and measuring
the chord distance between stations. This procedure is illustrated in figure
11-9. In this figure, you see a portion of a curve that starts at the PC and
runs through points (stations) A, B, and C.

To establish the location of point A on this curve, you should set up your
instrument at the PC, turn the required deflection angle (all/2), and then
measure the required chord distance from PC to point A. Then, to
establish point B, you turn deflection angle D/2 and measure the required
chord distance from A to B. Point C is located similarly. As you are aware,
the actual distance along an arc is greater than the length of a
corresponding chord; therefore, when using the arc definition, either a
correction is applied for the difference between arc length and chord
length, or shorter chords are used to make the error resulting from the
difference negligible. In the latter case, the following chord lengths are
commonly used for the degrees of curve shown:

100 feet—0 to 3 degrees of curve

50 feet—3 to 8 degrees of curve
25 feet—8 to 16 degrees of curve
10 feet-over 16 degrees of curve

The above chord lengths are the maximum distances in which the
discrepancy between the arc length and chord length will fall within the
allowable error for taping. The allowable error is 0.02 foot per 100 feet on
most construction surveys; however, based on terrain conditions or other
factors, the design or project engineer may determine that chord lengths
other than those recommended above should be used for curve
stakeout.

As noted earlier, theodolites are divided into two basic categories: the
repeating type and the directional model. Repeating theodolites are
equipped with a double vertical axis, usually cylindrical in shape, or a
repetition clamp. The double-vertical axis is similar to the double-spindle
arrangement used on transits. This design enables horizontal angles to be
repeated any number of times and added directly on the instrument’s
circle.

The reading system of Lietz, and many other theodolites, consists of a

graduated glass scale having a span of 1’ which appears superimposed
on the degree divisions of the main circle. This scale is read directly by
means of a microscope whose small eyepiece can be seen beside the
main telescope in the figure. To take a reading, it is simply necessary to
observe which degree number lies within the 1’ span of the glass scale
and select the minute indicated by the index mark.

A directional theodolite is used for reading directions rather than angles.

With this type of instrument, after a sight has been taken on a point, the
direction indicated on the circle is read. An observation on the next mark
gives a new direction, so the angle between the lines can be found by
subtracting the first direction from the second. Directional theodolites
have a single vertical axis and therefore cannot measure angles by the
repetition method. They do, however, have a circle-orienting drive to
make a rough setting of the horizontal circle at any desired position. On all
directional theodolites each reading represents the mean of two
diametrically opposed sides of the circle, made possible because the
operator simultaneously views both sides of it through internal optics. This
reading procedure, equivalent to averaging readings of the A and B
verniers of a transit, automatically compensates for eccentricity errors.

A typical directional theodolite, the Wild T2 is shown. It has a micrometer

that permits reading the horizontal and vertical circles directly to 1’’, with
estimation possible to the nearest 0.1’’. It also has a vertical control
bubble for orienting the vertical circle, an optical plummet, and a plate
bubble with 20’’/2 – mm division sensitivity. This instrument is representative
of many other similar ones in the directional theodolite category.
SAMPLE COMPUTATIONS:

I = 180 – (47 30’ + 80 30’)

I = 52

𝐼
T = R tan
2
52
T = 190 tan
2
T = 92.67m

PC = PI – T
PC = 12 + 006.6 – 92.67
PC = 11 + 913.99

𝑝𝑖 𝑅 𝐼 𝑝𝑖 (190)(52)
Lc = =
180 180
Lc = 172.43

PT = PC + Lc
PT = 11 + 913.99 + 172.43
PT = 12 + 086.36

6.01 20
=
𝑑1 6.01
D1 = 1 48’

6.36 20
=
𝑑2 6.01
D2 = 1 54’

1145.916 1145.916
d= =
𝑅 190
d = 6 01’