Spiral Curve

Spirals are used to overcome the abrupt change in curvature and superelevation that
occurs between tangent and circular curve. The spiral curve is used to gradually change
the curvature and superelevation of the road, thus called transition curve.

Elements of Spiral Curve

TS = Tangent to spiral
SC = Spiral to curve
CS = Curve to spiral
ST = Spiral to tangent
LT = Long tangent
ST = Short tangent
R = Radius of simple curve
Ts = Spiral tangent distance
Tc = Circular curve tangent
L = Length of spiral from TS to any point along the spiral
 Ls = Length of spiral
PI = Point of intersection
I = Angle of intersection
Ic = Angle of intersection of the simple curve
p = Length of throw or the distance from tangent that the circular curve has been
offset
X = Offset distance (right angle distance) from tangent to any point on the spiral
Xc = Offset distance (right angle distance) from tangent to SC
Y = Distance along tangent to any point on the spiral
Yc = Distance along tangent from TS to point at right angle to SC
Es = External distance of the simple curve
= Spiral angle from tangent to any point on the spiral
s = Spiral angle from tangent to SC
i = Deflection angle from TS to any point on the spiral, it is proportional to the
square of its distance
is = Deflection angle from TS to SC
D = Degree of spiral curve at any point
Dc = Degree of simple curve
Formulas for Spiral Curves
Distance along tangent to any point on the spiral:
Y=LL540R2Ls2Y=LL540R2Ls2

At L = Ls, Y = Yc, thus,

Yc=LsLs340R2Yc=LsLs340R2

Offset distance from tangent to any point on the spiral:

X=L36RLsX=L36RLs

At L = Ls, X = Xc, thus,

Xc=Ls26RXc=Ls26R

Length of throw:
p=14Xc=Ls224Rp=14Xc=Ls224R

Spiral angle from tangent to any point on the spiral (in radian):
=L22RLs=L22RLs

At L = Ls, = s, thus,
s=Ls2Rs=Ls2R

Deflection angle from TS to any point on the spiral:

i=13=L26RLsi=13=L26RLs

At L = Ls, i = is, thus,

i=13s=Ls6Ri=13s=Ls6R

This angle is proportional to the square of its distance

iis=L2Ls2iis=L2Ls2

Tangent distance:
Ts=Ls2+(R+P)tanI2Ts=Ls2+(R+P)tanI2
Angle of intersection of simple curve:
Ic=I2sIc=I2s

External distance:
Es=R+PcosI2REs=R+PcosI2R

Degree of spiral curve:

DDC=LLsDDC=LLs