Railway Engineering: Compound and Reverse Curve

Compound Curve

A compound curve (Fig. 13.14) is formed by the combination of two circular curves of different radii curving in the same direction. A common transition curve may be provided between the two circular curves of a compound curve. Assuming that such a connecting curve is to be traversed at a uniform speed, the length of the transition curve connecting the two circular curves can be obtained from the formula

where C_a1 and C_d1 are the cant and cant deficiency for curve 1 and C_a2 and C_d2 are the cant and cant deficiency for curve 2 in millimetres. L is the length of the transition curve, in m,and V_m is the maximum permissible speed in km/h.

Reverse Curve

A reverse curve (Fig. 13.15) is formed by the combination of two circular curves with opposite curvatures. A common transition curve may be provided between the two circular curves of a reverse curve. The total length of the transition curve, from the common circular curve to the individual circular curve, may be obtained in the same manner as explained for a compound curve in Section 13.15.

It has been stipulated that for high-speed group A and B routes, a minimum straight length of 50 m should be kept between the two curves constituting a reverse curve. In the case of a high-speed MG route, the distance to be kept should be 30 m. Straight lines between the circular curves measuring less than 50 m on BG sections of group A and B routes and less than 30 m on high-speed MG routes should be eliminated by suitably extending the transition lengths. When doing so, it should be ensured that the rate of change of cant and versine along the two transition lengths being extended is kept the same. When such straight lines between reverse curves cannot be eliminated and their lengths cannot be increased to over 50 m in the case of BG routes and 30 m in the case of MG routes, speeds in excess of 130 km/h on BG routes and 100 km/h on MG routes should not be permitted.