Surveying

JE Coaching

Chain and Tape Corrections

1

Errors in Chaining

It is important to understand the basic difference between cumulative and compensating errors,
and between positive and negative errors. A cumulative error is that which occurs in the same
direction and tends to accumulate while a compensating error may occur in either direction
and hence tends to compensate. Errors are regarded as positive or negative according as they
make the result too great or too small, respectively.
The various sources of error are:
1. Erroneous length of chain or tape: (Cumulative + or ) Error due to wrong length
of chain is always cumulative. It is the most serious source of error.
If length of chain is too long, the measured distance will be less and hence the error
will be negative.
If the chain is too short, the measured distance will be more and hence he error will
be positive.
2. Sag in Chain (Cumulative + ) When chain is stretched above the ground due to undulations or irregular ground, the chain sags and takes the form of a catenary. The measured
distance is therefore too great and the error is cumulative and positive.
3. Variations in Pull: (Compensating , Cumulative + or ) If the pull applied in
straightening the chain or tape is not equal to that of the standard pull at which the
chain or tape was calibrated, its length changes. If the pull applied is not measured but
is irregular (sometimes more, sometimes less), the error tends to compensate. However, a
chainman may apply too great or too small pull every time and in such a case, the error
becomes cumulative.
4. Variations in Temperature: (Cumulative + or ) When a chain or tape is used at
temperature different from that at which it was calibrated, its length changes.
If temperature increases, the length of chain increases. The measured distance is
thus less and the error becomes negative.
If temperature decreases, the length of chain decreases. The measured distance is
thus more and the error becomes positive.
5. Bad ranging: (Cumulative + ) If the chain is stretched out of the line, the measured
distance will always be more and hence the error will be positive. For each stretch of the
chain, the error due to bad ranging will be cumulative.
6. Bad straightening: (Cumulative + ) If the chain is not straight but is lying in an
irregular horizontal curve, the measured distance will always be too great. The error is
therefore cumulative and positive.
7. NonHorizontality: (Cumulative + ) If the chain is not horizontal (especially in case
of sloping or irregular ground), the measured distance will always be too great. The error
is therefore, cumulative and positive.
1

Surveying

JE Coaching

Chain and Tape Corrections

2.1

Tape Corrections

1. Temperature correction, Ct : The correction is necessary because the length of the

tape or chain may be increased or decreased due to rise or fall in temperature during
measurement. The correction is given as:
Ct = (Tm T0 ) L

(1)

where,
Ct

Tm
T0
L

= correction for temperature, in metres

= coefficient of thermal expansion, in C1
= temperature during measurement, in C
= temperature at which the tape was calibrated, in C
= length of tape, in m

The sign of Ct may be positive or negative according as Tm > T0 or Tm < T0 .

2. Pull correction, Cp : During measurement, the applied pull may be either more or less
than the pull at which the chain or tape was calibrated. The correction is given by the
following expression:
(Pm P0 ) L
(2)
Cp =
AE
where,
Cp
Pm
P0
L
A
E

= correction for pull, in metres

= pull applied during measurement, in kg
= pull at which the tape was calibrated, in kg
= length of tape, in m
= cross-sectional area of tape, in cm2
= modulus of elasticity of tape, in kg/cm2

The sign of Cp will be positive or negative according as Pm > P0 or Pm < P0 .

3. Slope correction, Ch : Slope correction is calculated as follows:
Ch = l(1 cos )

Ch = l l2 h2
h2
Ch =
2l
This correction is always negative.

. . . exact

(3a)

. . . exact

(3b)

. . . approx

(3c)

4. Sag correction, Cs : This correction is necessary when the measurement is taken with
tape in suspension (i.e. in the form of a catenary). It is given by the expression:
L(L)2
24n2 Pm2
L(W )2
Cs =
24n2 Pm2
Cs =

(4a)
(4b)

Surveying

JE Coaching

where,
Cs
L

W
n
Pm

2.2

= sag correction, in m
= length of the tape or chain, in m
= weight of tape per unit length, in kg/m
= total weight of tape, in kg
= number of spans
= pull applied during measurement, in kg

Chain Corrections

1. Correction applied to incorrect length: It is given by the expression:

L0
Measured Length
(5)
L
where, L = standard or true length of the chain, L0 = true length error. Use positive
sign when the chain is too long, and negative sign when the chain is too short.
True Length =

2. Correction applied to incorrect area: The correction to be applied in this case is

given as:
 0 2
L
True Area =
Measured Area
(6)
L
3. Hypotenusal Allowance: Hypotenusal allowance (HA) per tape length is given as:
HA = L(sec 1)

(7)

where, L is length of chain and is slope of the ground. This allowance is always added
to the chain length.
Concept of Hypotenusal Allowance
Method of hypotenusal allowance is an indirect method of chaining on sloping ground. In this method, the slope of the ground is
first determined using a clinometer or Abney level. Hypotenusal
allowance is then made for each tape or chain length.
Let be the angle of slope measured by clinometer. From the
Figure:
Figure 1:
Allowance

BC = A0 B = 1 chain = 100 links

AB = BC sec = 100 sec links
AA0 = AB A0 B = 100 sec 100 = 100 (sec 1) links
Hypotenusal Allowance = 100(sec 1)

(8)

Hypotenusal