Skip to main content

Circular curve through D, 5 m from B

Short answer

The deflection angle is 20°, BD = 5 m lies on the bisector, so external distance E=5 m. Radius R = E/(sec(Δ/2)–1) = 324.12 m, tangent length T = R tan(Δ/2) = 57.15 m, curve length L = πRΔ/180 = 113.14 m. Setting-out angle for a 20 m chord = 1718.87×20/R = 106.1′ = 1°46′04″.

Two straights intersecting at a point B have the following bearings. AB 90°, CB 290°. They are to be joined by a circular curve which must pass through a point D which is 5 m from B and the bearing of BD is 190°. Find the required radius, tangent lengths, length of curve and setting-out angle for a 20-m chord.

Step 1: Deflection angle

Direction of travel A→B: 90∘90^\circ. Bearing of CB is 290∘290^\circ, so the bearing of B→C is 290∘−180∘=110∘290^\circ - 180^\circ = 110^\circ.

Δ=110∘−90∘=20∘ (to the right)\Delta = 110^\circ - 90^\circ = 20^\circ\ \text{(to the right)}

Step 2: Position of D

Back bearing BA =270∘= 270^\circ and bearing BC =110∘= 110^\circ. The bisector of the interior angle ABC has bearing 270∘+110∘2=190∘\dfrac{270^\circ + 110^\circ}{2} = 190^\circ, which is the bearing of BD. Hence D lies on the line from B to the centre, and BD is the external distance:

E=5 mE = 5\ \text{m}
   A ------- B ------- (to C at 110°)
              \
               D  (BD = 5 m, 190°)
               |
               O

Step 3: Radius

E=R(sec⁡Δ2−1) ⇒ R=5sec⁡10∘−1=51.01543−1=324.12 mE = R\left(\sec\frac{\Delta}{2} - 1\right)\ \Rightarrow\ R = \frac{5}{\sec 10^\circ - 1} = \frac{5}{1.01543-1} = 324.12\ \text{m}

Step 4: Tangent length and curve length

T=Rtan⁡Δ2=324.12tan⁡10∘=57.15 mL=πRΔ180=113.14 m\begin{aligned} T &= R\tan\frac{\Delta}{2} = 324.12\tan 10^\circ = 57.15\ \text{m}\\ L &= \frac{\pi R\Delta}{180} = 113.14\ \text{m} \end{aligned}

Step 5: Setting-out angle for a 20 m chord

δ=1718.87 cR=1718.87×20324.12=106.07′=1°46′04″\delta = \frac{1718.87\,c}{R} = \frac{1718.87\times 20}{324.12} = 106.07' = 1°46′04″

Answer: R=324.12R = 324.12 m, T=57.15T = 57.15 m, L=113.14L = 113.14 m, setting-out angle for a 20 m chord =1°46′04″= 1°46′04″ (about 106.1′).

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

All Surveying II chapter 6 questions →