Mapa Institute of Technology

Muralla St., Intramuros, Manila.

School of Civil, Environmental, and Geological Engineering

Field Work No. 1

Laying of a Simple Curve by
Transit and Tape
(The Incremental Chord and Deflection Angle Method)

CE121F / B2

Submitted by:
Name: Patrick Emmanuel T. Gicale
2014106318

Student No:

Group No: 1
Date of Performance:
Date of Submission:

Grade

Submitted to: Engr. Bienvenido Cervantes

Research and Discussion:
The main objective of the first field work, entitled
Laying of a Simple Curve by Transit and Tape, is to
be able to lay a simple curve by deflection angle. In
this fieldwork, we lay a simple curve using theodolite
and tape by incremental chord and deflection angle
method. We were given a radius and an azimuth
where the point of curvature is to locate. And then
data needed in the fieldwork is calculated first before
proceeding. The fieldwork was conducted at
Intramuros Walls.
Laying a simple curve can be done in several
methods by deflection angle method, tangent offset
method
and
double-deflection
angle
method.
Deflection angle method uses a transit and tape,
tangent offset method uses a measuring tape only
while double-deflection method uses a theodolite or
transit only.
In the deflection angle method, curves are staked
out by use of deflection angles turned at the point of
curvature from the tangent to points along the curve.
The curve is set out by driving pegs at regular interval
equal to the length of the normal chord. Usually, the
sub-chords are provided at the beginning and end of
the curve to adjust the actual length of the curve. The
method assumes that there is no difference between

length of the arcs and their corresponding chords of

normal length or less. The underlying principle of this
method is that the deflection angle to any point on the
circular curve is measured by the one-half the angle
subtended at the center of the circle by the arc from
the P.C. to that point.
A simple curve is a circular arc, extending from
one tangent to the next. A curve is said to be simple
when it has the same radius throughout and consists
of single arc of circle with two tangents meeting at
actual point of intersection of roads. As the degree of
curve increases, the radius decreases. It should be
noted that for a given intersecting angle or central
angle, when using the arc definition, all the elements
of the curve are inversely proportioned to the degree
of curve. This definition is primarily used by civilian
engineers in highway construction.
The radius and the degree of curve are not
inversely proportional even though, as in the arc
definition, the larger the degree of curve the
sharper the curve and the shorter the radius. The
chord definition is used primarily on railroads in
civilian practice and for both roads and railroads by
the military.
Conclusion:
With this field work we were able to lay a simple
curve by deflection angle and master the skill in
leveling, orienting and using the theodolite effectively.

It can be observed from the data gathered that the

measured values are quite close to the actual length
of the chord, thus, the data acquired is accurate and
reasonable. There are several reasons that caused a
discrepancy between the actual and experimental
values for the long chord.
Recommendation:
In order to minimize the error, it is recommended
that in measuring the chord make sure that the tape
should not be long so that the correction in taping will
be minimize. Also, make sure that you are always in
line of sight with the theodolite. Lastly, it is
recommended that you should follow all of the
instructions written in the manual to commit less
human errors and to save some time that will hinder
the group to finish the experiment early.

Final Data Sheet

Data Given:
Radius: 200m
Backward Tangent Direction: N46E
Forward Tangent Direction: S68E
Station of the Vertex: 14+001

Station
Occupi Observ
ed
ed
PC

13+88
0
13+90
0
13+92
0
13+94
0
13+96
0
13+98
0
14+00
0
14+02
0
14+04
0
14+06
0
14+08
0
14+10
0
14+10

Increme
ntal
Chord

Central
Incremen
tal Angle

Deflectio
n Angle
from
Back
Tangent

8.88

232

116

20

815

4730

1358

659

1941

95030

2524

1242

317

153330

3650

1825

4233

211630

4816

248

5359

265430

5442

2951

20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
1.5

324230

655047 325523
6525

1.5

Computed length of the Chord: 217.8556m

Actual Length of the Chord: 218m