<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="https://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
  <channel>
    <title>Transport Research International Documentation (TRID)</title>
    <link>https://trid.trb.org/</link>
    <atom:link href="https://trid.trb.org/Record/RSS?s=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" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
    <description></description>
    <language>en-us</language>
    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
    <image>
      <title>Transport Research International Documentation (TRID)</title>
      <url>https://trid.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle.jpg</url>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/</link>
    </image>
    <item>
      <title>TESTING AND EVALUATION OF MERRITT PARKWAY GUIDERAIL</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/474497</link>
      <description><![CDATA[A blocked-out steel-backed timber guiderail and transition on steel posts were successfully developed and crash-tested in accordance with requirements set forth in NCHRP Report 350 for Test Level 3.  The timber guiderail system was developed for placement along the scenic Merritt Parkway in Connecticut.  The timber guiderail and transition were constructed from rough-sawn commercial Grade 1 southern pine backed with a 10- x 152-mm ASTM A588 Grade 50 structural steel plate.  The guiderail was supported by W150 x 22.5 steel posts 2 m long, spaced 3.05 m through the length-of-need section.  Reduced post spacings of 0.8 m and 1.5 m were used in the transition section.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 1997 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/474497</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>ULTIMATE CAPACITY AND MODE OF FAILURE OF A TIMBER BRIDGE GUARDRAIL</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/410649</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This report is an interim report for the first phase of an ongoing project entitled "Moderate Weight Bridge Guardrail for Rural Sites".  The objective is to examine the potential of a new bridge guardrail concept as a means of increasing the safety of travel over rural bridges.  Full-scale exploratory laboratory tests will be conducted on a moderate weight guardrail system for potential use on rural bridges.  To date, load tests have been completed on another (much heavier) guardrail system that previously passed an optional federal crash test and that will serve as the control specimen for the subsequent testing of the moderate weight guardrail system.  The control specimen with five posts and a rail attached was tested under transverse loading.  Load was increased until failure, with load and displacement monitored electronically.  Failure occurred at a load of 24,000+ lbs.  Compared to the AASHTO design load level of 10,000 lbs, this represents a factor of safety of about 2.4. This is considered to be a rational, expected margin for the specimen.  This report presents details of the conduct and findings of the destructive testing of the control specimen.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 1994 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/410649</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>HIGHWAY SAFETY BARRIERS - A LITERATURE REVIEW, CURRENT PRACTICE SURVEY AND CANADIAN NEEDS ASSESSMENT</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/171171</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This report is concerned with the adequacy of barrier design and appropriateness of its placement.  The criteria by which barrier performance can be judged must be based on the effect which the barrier has upon the vehicle in terms of such things as damage or occupant injury potential and the trajectory following impact.  The influence of initial conditions, such as speed and approach angle, on these consequences must next be assessed in light of the range of situations which are likely to occur on highways so that, finally, some rational criteria for judging performance can be approached.  Performance criteria and initial impact conditions are thus discussed in some detail.  Results of a comprehensive examination of full-scale crash test results are used to establish likely performance characteristics over a range of impact conditions.  Actual field performance statistics have been included where these are available and the various advantages or disadvantages of different barrier types or design modifications are discussed (especially in the case of timber vs steel posts and different forms of terminal design).  The effects of different soil types on post performance during impact has also been explored briefly, as has the influence of cross-section reduction by drilling on timber post strength.  (TRRL)]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 27 Feb 1982 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/171171</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>EVALUATION OF TIMBER BARRICADES AND PRECAST CONCRETE TRAFFIC BARRIERS FOR USE IN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION AREAS</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/141387</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This paper summarizes the results of a study of the performance of the timber barricade and a comparison of its characteristics and performance with those of the precast concrete traffic barrier.  The study included (a) a traffic accident analysis of the construction zone on I-495 where the timber barricade was employed; (b) a comparison of the technical, operational, and economic feasibility of the timber barricade and the precast concrete traffic barrier; and (c) a review of the legal requirements for temporary barrier systems.  The frequency of accident occurrence during construction on I-495 was approximately 119 percent higher than that before construction.  Of the reported crashes during construction, 52.5 percent involved vehicle contact with the timber barricades.  Of the vehicles involved in crashes with the barricades, 73.5 percent straddled or penetrated the barricades.  Thus, on the I-495 site, the timber barricades were ineffective as positive barriers.  From the technical, operational, and economic analyses, the precast concrete traffic barrier appeared to be superior to the timber barricade.  Since the completion of this study, the Federal Highway Administration has banned the use of the timber barricade as a positive barrier on any federal or federal-aid project.  /Author/]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 07 Nov 1979 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/141387</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>THE HORIZONTAL POLES OF TUMWATER CANYON</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/48438</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The guardrail system is described which offers protection to motorists while contributing to the aesthetics of the view. Logs were installed on concrete pedestals and subsequent overlays and shaping of the roadway required the installation of shims to adjust the height of the rail.  The Douglas Fir timber railing is pressure-treated for performance and durability.  The timber is pressure-treated with pentachlorophenol 10 pounds per cubic foot).]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 04 Aug 1977 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/48438</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>TIMBER BREAKAWAY GUARDRAIL POSTS</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/48433</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Tests are described which were designed to determine whether wood posts could adequately serve in breakaway (weak post) systems.  There are 2 basic types of weak-post systems in current use.  One utilizes a so- called strong beam, usually rectangular, welded steel tubing; the other uses a flexible railing, generally a standard steel W-rail (flex-beam) but ocassionally a steel-cable system.  Data indicate that so long as the 1/4- inch bolt and the pipe insert are used, weak-wood posts could vary from 4- by 6-inch rough sawn, with no significant differences in system performance. These 2 are standard timber sizes.  An alternate size is the 5 1/2 plus/minus 1/2 inch diameter, round wood post.  Any of these three sizes will break under impact in the weak post system, where post spacing is 12.5 feet.  Comments are also made regarding rail to post connection and railing height.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 19 Jul 1977 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/48433</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A NEW WAY TO TEST PRESSURE-TREATED GUARDRAIL POSTS</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/48434</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The test program and results are described of an investigation of the dynamic strength properties of timber posts.  As a result of this program, data on breaking characteristics of timber were made available for use in computer programming.  Project data can be used in predictive computer programs.  The computer will be used for new system development and for analysis of present systems leading to refinement in present designs.  Project design procedures for selection of guardrail ssytems will also change and become more accurate as more data becomes available.  A research project on what happens when posts are embedded in a range of nonchoesive soils, found that the dynamic response of post/soil systems varies with 3 primary factors: soil strength, specimen width, and embedment depth. Dynamic responses are 2 to 4 times the corresponding static response.  This data also applied to breakaway sign posts and light standards.  Simple soil test data obtained with a penetrometer will enable the designing of embedment lengths of the post to give them an optimum force-deflection curve for the strong-post system.  Embedment lengths could be varied in the future depending on the type of soil.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 19 Jul 1977 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/48434</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>AUTOMOBILE COLLISION WITH AND COLLAPSE OF THE YADKIN RIVER BRIDGE NEAR SILOAM, NORTH CAROLINA. FEBRUARY 23, 1975</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/42635</link>
      <description><![CDATA[About 9:25 p.m. on February 23, 1975, an automobile struck a vital structural member of the Yadkin River Bridge near Siloam, North Carolina. The collision occurred in heavy fog. Following the impact, the bridge collapsed and both the automobile and the bridge fell into the river. Six more vehicles vaulted into the collapse zone within a 17-minute period. Four persons were killed and 16 were injured. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the bridge collapse was the penetration of the timber railing by the vehicle and its subsequent impact with and crushing of a vital structural member of the bridge truss. The timber railing was not adequate to sustain impact at posted speeds. The report contains recommendations to the Department of Transportation to improve the safety of bridges on public roads.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 11 Aug 1976 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/42635</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>DYNAMIC EVALUATION OF TIMBER POSTS FOR HIGHWAY GUARDRAILS</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/103758</link>
      <description><![CDATA[AN EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM WAS PERFORMED ON GUARDRAIL POSTS TO LEARN THE MORE SIGNIFICANT DYNAMIC PROPERTIES. A SPECIAL PENDULUM IMPACT FACILITY WAS USED TO SUBJECT TEST SPECIMENS TO DYNAMIC LOADING THAT SIMULATED A VEHICLE-GUARDRAIL INSTALLATION COLLISION. ONE HUNDRED SPECIMENS OF DOUGLAS FIR, SOUTHERN PINE, RED OAK, AND RED PINE WOOD WERE EVALUATED; FOR COMPARISON 6B8.5 AND 315.7 STEEL MEMBERS WERE TESTED. SIZES OF WOOD POSTS RANGED FROM 4 BY 4 IN. TO 8 BY 8 IN. IN CROSS SECTION. THE POST SPECIMENS WERE RIGIDLY SECURED IN A BASE FIXTURE, AND THE DYNAMIC LOAD WAS APPLIED 24 IN. ABOVE GRADE. BASIC TEST DATA INCLUDE A COMPLETE LOAD RESISTANCE-POST DEFLECTION DETERMINATION FOR EACH SPECIMEN. THE DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF PEAK RESISTANCE FORCE, AVERAGE RESISTANCE FORCE, AND FRACTURE ENERGY ARE REPORTED FOR WOOD SPECIES AND STEEL MEMBERS. TEST RESULTS SHOW THAT, WHILE DATA SCATTER EXIST WITHIN A WOOD SPECIES AND SIZE TEST GROUP, THE AVERAGE VALUES OF SUCH GROUPS CAN BE PLOTTED IN A MANNER TO GIVE MEANINGFUL TRENDS. PEAK FORCE, AVERAGE FORCE, AND FRACTURE ENERGY ARE SHOWN TO BE A DIRECT AND LINEAR FUNCTION OF MOMENT OF INERTIA. /AUTHOR/]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 25 Jul 1971 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/103758</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>EVALUATION OF TIMBER WEAK POST GUARDRAIL SYSTEMS</title>
      <link>https://trid.trb.org/View/98771</link>
      <description><![CDATA[SIX FULL-SCALE VEHICLE CRASH TESTS WERE CONDUCTED OF GUARDRAIL SYSTEMS TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SUBSTITUTING TIMBER POSTS FOR THE STANDARD 315.7 STEEL POSTS SPECIFIED IN A CURRENT GUARDRAIL STANDARD. RESULTS OF THE TESTS INDICATE THAT TIMBER IS A SUITABLE POST MATERIAL FOR THE "WEAK POST" CONCEPT. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS SOME DIFFICULTY IN DETERMINING THE PROPER RAIL ATTACHMENT TO THE POST, ALTERNATE SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM ARE SUGGESTED IN THE REPORT. BASICALLY, THE TIMBER POST DESIGN CALLS FOR A 12 GA FLEX BEAM MOUNTED ON 6 X 5-IN. OR 5-1/2-IN. DIA PINE POSTS SPACED AT 12.5-FT CENTERS. A 1/4-IN. DIA STEEL BOLT AND A PIPE INSERT PROVIDE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF RAIL TO POST. THE SIXTH TEST OF THE SERIES PROVIDED AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A CONTINOUS INSTALLATION COMPOSED OF THE NEW TIMBER WEAK POST SYSTEM AND THE ODH STRONG POST SYSTEM. THE TEST RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE TRANSITION DESIGN BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS WAS SATISFACTORY, BUT DESIGN COULD IMPROVE PERFORMANCE. /AUTHOR/]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 1970 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://trid.trb.org/View/98771</guid>
    </item>
  </channel>
</rss>