Lecture on

Engineering Curves
Mechanical and Civil Engineering Department

Galgotias University
Greater Noida UP

Engineering curves

The profile of number of objects consists of various types of curves. The various types of curves which are commonly used in engineering practice as shown below:
Conic section Cycloidal curves Involutes Spirals Helix

Conic Sections

The sections obtained by the intersection of a right circular cone by a plane in different positions relative to the axis of the cone are called conics
When the section plane is inclined to the axis and cuts all the generators on one side of the apex, the section is an ellipse

When the section plane is inclined to the axis and is parallel to one of the generators, the section is a parabola
When the section plane cuts both the parts of the double cone on one side of the axis, the section is a hyperbola

Ellipse Parabola

Section Plane Through Generators

Section Plane Parallel to Axis Hyperbola

Section Plane Parallel to end generator

Different Conic sections

Contd

The conic may be defined as the locus of a point moving in a plane in such a way that the ratio of its distances from a fixed point and a fixed straight line is always constant. The fixed point is called the focus and the fixed line, the directrix The ratio between the distances of the point from the focus to the distance of the point from the directrix is called eccentricity and is denoted by e. It is always less than 1 for ellipse, equal to 1 for parabola and greater than 1 for hyperbola The line passing through the focus and perpendicular to the directrix is called the axis. The point at which the conic cuts its axis is called the vertex.

x2 y2 1 a b

Ellipse

Use of elliptical curves is made in arches, bridges, dams, monuments etc. Mathematically an ellipse can be described by equation

Construction of an ellipse
Foci method (Given major and minor axes) Concentric circles method (Given major and minor axes) Oblong method (Given major and minor axes)

Foci method

Draw a line AB equal to the major axis and a line CD equal to the minor axis, bisecting each other at right angles at O With center C and radius equal to half AB (i.e. AO) draw arcs cutting AB at F1 and F2, the foci of the ellipse Mark a umber of points 1, 2, 3 etc. on AB

With centers F1 and F2 and radius equal to A1, draw arcs on both sides of AB. With same centers and radius equal to B1, draw arcs intersecting the previous arcs at four points marked P1 Similarly, with radii A2 and B2, A3 and B3 etc. obtain more points. Draw smooth curve through these points. This curve is the required ellipse

F1

F2

FOCI METHOD

Concentric Circle method

Draw the major axis AB and the minor axis CD intersecting each other at O With center O and diameters AB and CD respectively, draw two circles Divide the major axis circle into a number of equal divisions, say 12 and mark points 1, 2 etc. as shown Draw lines joining these points with the center O and cutting the minor axis circle at points 1, 2 etc Through point 1 on the major axis circle draw a line parallel to CD, the minor axis Through point 1 on the minor axis circle, draw a line parallel to AB, the major axis. The point P1, where these two lines intersect is on the required ellipse Repeat the construction through all the points. Draw the ellipse through A, P1, P2..etc

C
2 1

DD

Concentric Circle Method

Oblong method

Draw the two axes AB and CD intersecting each other at O Construct the oblong EFGH having its sides equal to the two axes Divide the semi major axis AO into a number of equal parts, say 4, and AE into the same number of equal parts, numbering them from A as shown Draw lines joining 1, 2, and 3 with C

From D draw lines through 1, 2 and 3 intersecting C1, C2 and C3 at points P1, P2 and P3 respectively
Draw the curve through A, P1C. It will be one quarter of the ellipse

Complete the curve by the same construction in each of the three remaining quadrants.

4 3 2 1

3
2 1 1 2 3

Oblong Method

Parabola

Use of parabolic curves is made in arches, bridges, sound reflectors, light reflectors etc. Mathematically an parabola can be described by equation

Construction of an parabola
Rectangle method Tangent method

Rectangle method

Draw the base AB At its mid point E, draw the axis EF at right angles to AB Construct a rectangle ABCD, making side BC equal to EF Divide AE and AD into the same number of equal parts and name them accordingly Draw lines joining F with points 1, 2 and 3. Through 1, 2 and 3, draw perpendiculars to AB intersecting F1, F2 and F3 at points P1, P2 and P3 respectively Draw a curve through A, P1, P2 etc. It will be a half parabola

Rectangle Method

Tangent method

Draw the base AB and the axis EF Produce EF to O, so that EF = FO Join O with A and B. Divide lines OA and OB into the same number of equal parts, say 8 Mark the division points in reverse order Draw lines joining 1 with 1, 2 with 2 etc. Draw a curve starting from A and tangent to lines 1-1, 2-2 etc. This curve is the required parabola

Tangent Method