Formulation of shift of a circular curve with

unequal transition length

September 22, 2013

Formulation of co-ordinates for circular curve. Normally rail or road align-

ment moves through different curvatures. It may consists of straight lines,
circular curves and compound curves. This paper presents the generation of
co-ordinates or the alignment having straight lines and circular curves.
First of all the relations will be drawn in local co-ordinate system which can
be very easily converted into WGS-84 or any other type of global co-ordinate
system. Global co-ordinate does not mean only standard co-ordinates system
like WGS-84 but a co-ordinate system adopted for a project.

Straight Line
For given two number of points other points between them can easily be find
out as the relationship between them will remain linear.

Circular Curve
Let us consider a circular curve of radius R between the tangents T1 O and
T2 O . The deviation angle between the tangents are . The center of the cir-
cular curve is c1 . The circular curve touches the left and right hand tangents
at A and B respectively.

Take a case when the circular curve is shifted in such a way that the center of
the curve assigns a new position c2 from its old position c1 . Absolute distance
between c1 and c2 is s. c2 M and c2 N are perpendicular to the tangents from
c2 . Refer figure 1 on page no. 4

Transition curve starts from T1 and T2 . Transition curves are widely ac-
cepted in the form of cubical parabola. Let us take a cubical parabola as

1
 x = ay 3 + k, (1)

where,a and k is a constant

dx/dy = 3ay 2
d2 x/dy 2 = 6ay
d2 x
1 dy 2
R
= 3
[1+( dx
dy
)2 ] 2

Assuming as, dx/dy 0, within transition length

This assumption fairly accurate if L  R

1 2
R
= ddyx2 ,
at point P1 where transition curve touches circular curve, curvature of both
curves will be same,

at P1 , y = L1 , x = 0

1
R
= 6ay = 6aL1

1
a= 6L1 R

at T1 , x = 0, y = 0, therefore, k = 0

Assuming again,
scos(1 )
at M, x = 2
,y = L1 /2

Therefore,
s cos(1 )
2
= a( L21 )3
s cos(1 ) 1
2
= ( L1 )3
6L1 R 2

s cos(1 ) L21
2
= 48R

L21
scos(1 ) = (2)
24R

This way the above mentioned assumption, basically serves as a boundary

2
condition to find out the value of s. Refer figure no. 2 and 3

Similarly, to the other side of the transition curve where the length of the
transition curve is L2 , 6 (c1 c2 N ) = 2

L22
s cos(2 ) = (3)
24R

also,
AM = s. sin(1 ),
L21
AM = 24R
. tan(1 )

similarly,
L22
BN = 24R . tan(2 )
L21 L22
Say, S1 = 24R
and S2 = 24R

Hence,
L21 L22
AM = S1 . tan(1 ) and BN = S2 . tan(2 ), where S1 = 24R
and S2 = 24R

Finding co-ordinate of different portions of a circular curve in a given co-ordinate system

Let us take co-ordinate system (X, Y ) as shown in figure 1 on page no. 4
as our global co-ordinate system. Presented below the a typical way to find
out the co-ordinates of different portions of a circular curve as represented
in figure no. 1. Here the case has been represented as right hand curve.

1. First Transition Curve: The length of the transition curve is L1 , which

extends from T1 to P1 . The chosen form of transition curve is a cubical
parabola as explained above,

1
x = ay 3 , where a = 6L1 R
, and 0 y L1

2. Second Transition Curve: This transition curve which is of length L2

and extends between T2 and P2 as shown in figure 1. Let us first define the
co-ordinates in local co-ordinate as shown in figure no 1 as X 0 , Y 0

x0 = ay 03 , where a = 1
6L2 R
, and 0 y 0 L2

Now, the co-ordinates found out in local co-ordinate (X 0 , Y 0 ) could be trans-

ferred in global co-ordinate (X, Y ) by using transformation equations as ex-

3
 Figure 1: Curve shown with shift

plained below,

x = xo + x0 cos() y 0 sin() (4)

y = yo + x0 sin() + y 0 cos() (5)

(xo , yo ) are the co-ordinate of origin of (X 0 , Y 0 ) with respect to (X, Y ) co-

ordinate system.

here in this case, = (180 ) deg, if is in deg and replace x0 by x0 ,

4
 Figure 2: A zoom portion of curve

so that the orientation of (X 0 , Y 0 ) be similar to that of (X, Y )

Now, consider triangle T1 OT2 , where 6 O = 180 ,

T1 O = 0.5L1 + S1 tan(1 ) + R tan(/2) (6)

T2 O = 0.5L2 + S2 tan(2 ) + R tan(/2) (7)
Also,

xo = T2 O.sin() and yo = T1 O + T2 O. cos()

5
Figure 3: A zoom portion of curve

6
1 + 2 =

using equations 2 and 3

cos(1 ) L21
cos(2 )
= L22

L22
L21
cos()
1
1 = tan [ ] (8)
sin()

Therefore, the equation 4 and 5 can be evaluated

3. Circular Curve: A curve of Radius R has to fit between the two tran-
sition curves. Refer figure no. 4. The circular curve AV B and its shifted
portion cuts the bisector at point V and v. If V v = s1 then c1 v = R s1 ,
c2 v = R and c1 c2 = s. From (vc1 c2 ), 6 vc1 c2 = 180 [1 2 ]
(vc1 )2 +(c1 c2 )2 (vc2 )2
cos(6 vc1 c2 ) = 2vc1 c1 c2

(Rs0 )2 +(s)2 (R)2

cos(180 [1 2 ]) = 2(Rs0 )s

Simplifying above equation, if K = cos(1 2 )

(s0 )2 2.s0 .(R + s.K) + s2 + 2.s.R.K

There will be two solution for this quadratic equation, and for s0 < R

q
s0 = (R + s.K) R2 s2 (1 K 2 ) (9)

Therefore, intercept of V v on Y axis will be V vt = s0 sin(/2)

Co-ordinate of center c2 will be (R + s. cos(1 ), L21

c2 = (cx , cy )

L1
cx = R + s. cos(1 ) and cy = 2

Equation of circle will be,

7
Figure 4: Cuve showing shift

8
(x cx )2 + (y cy )2 = R2 ,
q
L1 2
x = R + s. cos(1 ) R2 (y 2
)

where, L1 y L1
2
+ s. sin(1 ) + R. sin(/2) s0 . sin(/2)

Similarly, with respect to (x0 , y 0 ) also remaining portion of circular curve

could be drawn suitably transformed to global co-ordinate system (x, y) by
using transformation equations as explained in equations 4 and 5

Thanks
Auther: Shailendra Kumar, Executive Engineer, Northern Railway, India
Your valuable comments/suggesitions may be addressed to XENCUSBRL@GMAIL.COM
or AMBASTHA.SEE@GMAIL.COM