Instrumental Method

1) Rankine’s Method.
2) Two theodolite method .
3) Tacheometric Method .

Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
1) Rankine’s Method.

Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
1) Transite theodolite and chain or tape are used in this
method.
2) It is normally used for setting out the curves in railways
and other important work.
 Formulae for the deflection angle method.
1) R be the radius of the curve and Ө be the deflection
angle.
2) AB is the first tangent to the curve .
3) E,D,T1 etc are the successive point on the curve.
4) δ1, δ2, δ3, δ4, etc are tangential angle or deflection
angle made by long chord T1E,ED,DT2 w.r.t .tangent.
Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
5) ∆1, ∆2, ∆3,etc are the total tangential angle or deflection
angle between
i) first tangent AB and
ii) first tangent AB and T1D
iii) first tangent AB and T1T2
6) C1,C2,C3 etc are the length of chord T1E,ED, DT2
chord T1E =Arc T1E assumed to be C1.
BT1E = δ1 = ½ T1 OE
T1 OE = 2 δ1

Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
Now T1 O E / C1 = 180 / ∏R
T1 O E = (180 / ∏R) X C1

2 δ1 = (180 / ∏R) X C1

δ1 = (180 / 2 x ∏R) X C1
=( 90 / ∏R ) X C1
= (90 X 60/ ∏R ) X C1 ( 60 minute)
= (5400/∏R ) X C1 ( 60 minute)
δ1 = (1718.9/R) X C1 ( 60 minute)

Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
Similarly,
δ2 = (1718.9/R) X C2
δ3 = (1718.9/R) X C3
δ n = (1718.9/R) X Cn

Total Deflection angle calculation.

Total deflection angle or Tangential angle are ∆1, ∆2, ∆3,etc .
Total Deflection angle for first chord.
T1 E = B T1 E
∆1 = δ1
Total deflection angle ∆2 = δ1 + δ2
Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
 ∆2 = δ1 + δ2 = ∆1 + δ2
∆3= δ1 + δ2 + δ3 = ∆2 + δ3
∆4 = δ1 + δ2 + δ3 + δ4 = ∆3+ δ4.

Check for deflection angle

< BT1T2 = ∆n = Ө/2

Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
Step remember for calculating data
1) Tangent length.
2) Curve length
3) Chainage of first of first point.
4) Chainage of second tangent point
5) Initial sub –chord length
6) Number fall chord
7) Final Sub-chord
8) Deflection angle for initial sub-chord.
9) Deflection angle for full chord
10) Arithematic check.
Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
 Setting out of curve procedure
1) Set transit theodolite over he tangent point “T1”
centering and leveling.
2) Direct the telescope to A so as to bisect the ranging
rod held at B.
3) Set vernier A to the first deflection angle ∆1 then
direct telescope along T1E.
4) Take one end of the chain or tape at T1 & arrows on the
chain at distance equal to length of sub-chord ,swing the
chain around T1 and bisect the arrow so as to fix the
position on first point E on the curve.
Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
 5) Loose the upper plate set vernier to second deflection ∆2
then direct line of sight along T1D.
6) In this way establish end point on the curve.
7) Enter the reading in field book.

Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
2) Two theodolite method

Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
 1) Knowing point B of intersection and tangent length
established two more control point T1 & T2. so
BT1 = BT2 = Tangent length ( l ).
2) Set up the theodolite at T1 & another theodolite on T2
3) Set the reading of each transite theodolite are deflection
angle ( ∆1) for the first point ( E ) .the line of sight of
the both the theodolite are thus directed toward ( E )
along T1E ,& T2E resp.
4) To fix the second point ‘F’ set reading ( ∆2) on the both
theodolite.
5) In order to locate all other point.

Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
 Types of transition curve
1) A Cubic Parabola
2) A clothoid or spiral
3) A lemnisate .

Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
 Numerical
1) Two straight meet an angle of 1360 radius 300m .
calculate the element of simple curve.
( Dec-2012,6 mark)

Ans:-Given data : 1) Intersection angle = I = 1360

therefore angle of deflection =Ө=180-I = 1800-1360 =440
radius of curve=300 m
2)Calculation of element of simple curve
Draw the figure of simple curve
i)Tangent Length = R tan Ө/2
= 300 tan 440/2 = 121.20 m
Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
ii) Length of long chord = 2 R sinӨ/2
= 2 x300 sin 440/2
= 224.76 m
iii)length of the curve = RӨ radian

= 300 X Ө radian
= 300 X 44 X ∏ /180
= 230.383 m
iv) Apex distance =R ( Sec Ө/2 – 1)
=300 ( Sec 44/2 – 1)
Mr.Sonawane R.S. = ……………m
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
 2) It is required to set out a curve of radius 100 m with peg at
approximately 10 m .centre the deflection angle is 600 .Draw up
the necessary data for pegging out the curve by offset from long
chord. ( May-2013,8 Mark)
Ans:- Given – i)R= 100, Ө = 60 ,
peg is 10m at center consider peg interval 10 m.
ii) Length of long chord = 2R sin Ө /2 = 2 x 100 x sin 60/2 = 100 m
Step- I Draw the figure
Step- II find the ordinate of long chord (O10 )
O10 = R - √ R2 – ( L/2) 2
= 100- √ 1002 – ( 100/2) 2
= 100 – 86.60
= 13.39 m
Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
 O20 = √ R2 – x2 - ( R –Oo)
= √ 1002 – (20)2 - ( 100 –13.39) … x is offset interval
= 97.97 – (86.61)
= 11.36 m
O30 = √ R2 – x2 - ( R –Oo)
= √ 1002 – 302 - ( 100 –13.39)
= 95.39 – 86.61
= 8.78 m
O40 = √ R2 – x2 - ( R –Oo)
= √ 1002 – 402 - ( 100 –13.39)
= 91.65 – 86.61
= 5.04
Mr.Sonawane R.S. m
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
O50 = √ R2 – x2 - ( R –Oo)
= √ 1002 – (50)2 - ( 100 –13.39) … x is offset interval
= 86.60 - ( 86.61)
= 0.01 ≈ 0.00
= 0.00
Remaining ordinate for half portion are same
Draw the sketch of curve with found ordinates.

Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
 3)Two straight intersect at a chainage of 2610 m the deflection being
360 .A circular curve of 400 m . Radius is to be set .Calculate the
chainage of the tangent point of right handed circular curve.peg interval
is 30.

4) two road meets at an angle of 1500 .calculate the data

necessary for setting out curve of 10 chains radius to
connect straight roads .if intended to the set out curve by
chain and offset from long chord .chain use 30m chain
only. calculate offset from center of long chord.
Ans:- I = point of intersection = 1500
Ө =deflection angle =1800- 1500 = 300
R =Radius of curve=10 chain s= 10 x 30 m = 300 m.

Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.
 Step- I Draw the figure

Step- II find the ordinate of long chord (O0 )

O0 = R - √ R2 – ( L/2) 2 = 10.86 m
O20 = 10.16 m
O40 = 8.18 m
O60 = 4.8 m
O80 = 0

= 13.39 m

Mr.Sonawane R.S.
DCE,BE(CIVIL),ME( Geotechnical Engg.),AMIEI.