Fieldwork No.

15
LAYING-OUT A COMPOUND CURVE

Name : Weather :
Group No. : Place :
Designation : Time, Start :
Instructor : End :

I. Objectives

To lay out a compound curve consisting of two simple curves with different radii by
deflection angles method

II. Instruments

1 unit - Engineers transit 1 pc - Plumb bob

1 roll - string 1 pc - 50-meter tape
10 pcs - marking pins

III. Theory
A compound curve consists of two or more simple curves connected one after the other. The point
where the curves are connected is called PCC which stands for point of compound curve. At that point the
curves have the same tangent thus the term common tangent of the compound curve. The length of the
common tangent is equal to the sum of the length of the tangent of the first curve, T 1, and the length of the
2nd tangent, T2. The point of intersection of the tangents of the first curve is called PI 1 and the pointof
intersection of the tangents of the 2nd curve is called PI2. Obviously the distance from PI1 to PI2 is the
common tangent of the compound curve. The deflection angle of the common tangent with respect to the
main backward tangent of the compound curve is equal to the central angle of the 1st curve and the
deflection angle of the common tangent with respect to the main forward tangent of the compound curve is
the same as the central angle of the 2nd curve.
The compound curve can be laid out using deflection angles. For the first curve the deflection angles
would be reckoned from to the main backward tangent and those of the second curve from the common
tangent.
 PI
I

PI1 I1 I2
PI2
PC

PT

I2

I1

IV. Procedure
A. Preliminary Calculations

1. The following data will be used to layout the desired compound curve-centerline
in the field.
Sta PI1 =
Deflection angle at PI, I =
Deflection an gle I1 =
Degree of curve, D1 =
Degree of curve,D2 =

2. Compute the value of the following curve parameters:

 Deflection angle, I2 (the central angle of the second curve)

 Radius R1 and R2 of the first and second curves, respectively
 Length of Tangents,T1, T2, and Tc
 Stationing of the PC
 Length of Curves, L1 and L2
  Deflection angles from the back tangent about the PC of all even stations on
the first curve and the corresponding lengths of sub chords
 Deflection angles from the common tangent about the PCC of all even
stations on second curve and the corresponding lengths of sub chords.
 Length of the long chords, C1 and C2, for the first and second curve from
P.C.C. to BC and P.C.C. to EC respectively

3. Tabulate the computed deflection angles corresponding to every point on the

curve and the corresponding lengths of subchord

Points Deflection Length of Remarks

angles subchord
12+----- PC
12+----- 1st even station

B. Laying out the curve

1. Set up and level the instrument at a point of intersection of the tangents of the
first curve ( PI 1) and, using the calculated tangent distances and angle of
intersections, establish the beginning of the curve (PC), the point of compound
curve (PCC), the point of intersection of the tangents of the 2nd curve (PI2), and
the end of the curve PT.
2. Transfer the instrument to the PC and layout the first curve starting from the PC
to the PCC using the deflection angles and subchord lengths (Refer to the
procedure for Field Work 1).
3. Transfer the instrument at the PCC and layout the 2nd curve from the PCC to the
PT using deflection angles from the common tangent and subchord distances.
4. For checking purposes measure the length of the long chords, C1 and C2,
subtended by the first and second curves that is from P.C.C. to BC and P.C.C. to
E.C. and the distance from the PC to the PT.
V. Findings

V. Conclusion
VII. Sketch