COMPOUND CURVES

Compound Curve consists of two or more consecutive simple curve having different radius, but whose centers lie on the same side
of the curve, likewise any two consecutive curves must have a common tangent at their meeting point. When two such curves lie
upon opposite sides of the common tangent, the two curves then turns a reversed curve. In a compound curve, the point where the
two curves join is called the point of compound curvature (PCC).

Elements of a Compound Curve

PI
C
TL
I2
I = I 1 + I2
p
B TR
T1 I1 q

E I2
PCC D
PC
A T1 T2

T2
F PT
R1
I2
R2
I1
O2

O1

R1 = radius of curve AE I1 = central angle of curve AE

R2 = radius of curve EF I2 = central angle of curve EF

T1 = tangent distance of curve AE I = angle of intersection of tangents AC and CF

T2 = tangent distance of curve EF TL = Tangent to the left of compound curve, = T1 + p

T1 + T2 = common tangent TR = Tangent to the right of compound curve, = T2 + q

Vertex Triangle Method

- In the figure, assume that R1, R2, I1, I2, I and the station of the PI @ V are known.
- The line BD is tangent to the curve at the point of compound curve or PCC and forms the vertex triangle BDC.
- The distance BE = T1 = R1tan (I1/2) and ED = T2 = R2tan (I2/2), yielding BD = T1 + T2
- The triangle BDC is solved by the law of sine to compute for p and q. Then T L = T1 + p, TR = T2 + q
Sample Problem:

A Compound Curve has a common tangent of 84.5 m long which makes an angle of 16 o and 20o with the tangents of the first curve
and the second curve respectively. The length of the tangent of the second curve is 42 m.
a. What is the radius of the first curve?
b. Find the radius of the second curve.
c. Find the TL and TR of the compound curve.
d. Find the length of the long chord from PC to PT.
e. Find the location of the PT if the PI of the compound curve is located at 8+000.
Sample Problem:

The common tangent AB of a compound curve is 76.42-m, with an azimuth of 88°30’. The vertex V being inaccessible. The
azimuth of the tangents AV and VB was measured to be 67°50’ and 102°50’ respectively. The stationing at A is 10+010.46 and
the degree of the first curve is 4° based on the 20-m chord. Use chord basis.

a. Compute the stationing of PCC.

b. Compute the radius of the second curve.
c. Determine the stationing of PT.
Sample Problem:
The long chord from the PC to the PT of a compound curve is 300 meters long. The central angle of the first curve is 12ᵒ and
16ᵒ for the other curve. If the common tangent is parallel to the long chord, determine the following:

a. Radius of the first curve.

b. Radius of the second curve.
c. If stationing of PI is at 10+204.30, find the stationing of PT.
Traverse Method

The procedure for applying this method to compound curve is as follows:

1. Draw a sketch of the curve to be computed. Form a closed traverse, including all independent variable, and label variables.
In the figure below, polygon ACFO2O1A comprises the closed traverse.
2. Assume a direction of zero azimuth to be parallel or perpendicular to one unknown line. Thus, in the figure, O1A can be
assumed due north.
3. Calculate azimuth for each line, including unknown directions expressed as functions of unknown angles. For example, in
the figure, the azimuth of O1O2 is I1°, assuming that O1A is due north.
4. Tabulate data as for traverse calculations and compute departures and latitudes, expressing those for unknown lines as
functions of unknowns.
5. Take ∑ latitudes = 0 and the ∑ departures = 0 to form two equations which can be solved for the unknowns.

Departures Latitudes
Side Azimuth Length East West North South
O1A 0° R1 R1
AC 90° TL TL
CF 90°+I TR TR sin(90°+I) TR cos(90°+I)
FO2 180°+I R2 R2 sin(180°+I) R2 cos(180°+I)
O2O1 180°+I1 R1-R2 (R1-R2) sin (180°+I1) (R2-R1) sin (180°+I1)

Taking ∑ latitudes = 0 yields,

R1 = (R2-R1) sin (180°+I1) + TR cos(90°+I) + R2 cos(180°+I) = 0
TR = R1 - (R2-R1) sin (180°+I1) - R2 cos(180°+I)
cos(90°+I)

Setting ∑ departures = 0 and substituting TR from the above equation into this equation yields a value for TL:
TL = R2 sin(180°+I) + (R2-R1) sin (180°+I1) - TR sin(90°+I)
Sample Problem:

The following are given data for a compound curve:

R1= 802.36 m R2= 514.55 m
I1= 12ᵒ I2= 15ᵒ
PI located @ station 10+204.30

Determine the following using Traverse Method:

a. TL of the Compound Curve.
b. TR of the Compound Curve.
c. Station of PC and PT of the Compound Curve