DESIGN, FABRICATION, AND INSTALLATION OF A FRAGMENTING-TUBE-TYPE ENERGY ABSORBER IN CONJUNCTION WITH A BRIDGE RAIL

CONVENTIONAL MODERN BRIDGE RAILS ARE RIGID INSTALLATIONS THAT REDIRECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT PROVIDING ANY ENERGY ABSORBTION. THIS REPORT DISCUSSES THE DESIGN THEORY THAT PROVIDES A NEW CONCEPT OF AN ENERGY-ABSORBING BRIDGE RAIL, UTILIZING A FRAGMENTING TUBE AS THE PRIMARY ENERGY-ABSORBING ELEMENT. THE PAPER DISCUSSES THE SEPARATE FUNCTIONS OF THE BRIDGE RAIL AS BOTH AN ENERGY-ABSORBING SYSTEM FOR SMALL VEHICLES AND A REDIRECTING RAIL FOR LARGE VEHICLES. ALSO PRESENTED IS A NEW CONCEPT IN GUARDRAIL DESIGN - THE CANTILEVERED RAIL CONCEPT. THE PROCEDURES FOR FABRICATION AND INSTALLATION OF THIS PROTOTYPE ENERGY-ABSORBING RAIL ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. /AUTHOR/

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/hrr/1970/302/302-002.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Paper sponsored by Committee on Guardrails, Median Barriers, and Sign, Signal and Lighting Supports and Committee on Bridge Design and presented at the 49th Annual Meeting. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
• Authors:
  • Woolam, William E
  • Garza, Luis R
• Publication Date: 1970

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: pp 21-27
• Monograph Title: Bridges, foundations and retaining walls
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Record
  • Issue Number: 302
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge railings; Building; Cantilevers; Compact automobiles; Deflection; Energy absorbing materials; Fabrication; Facilities; Guardrails; Installation; Motor vehicles; Structural design; Tubing
• Uncontrolled Terms: Fragmentation
• Old TRIS Terms: Energy absorbers; Small car
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00203469
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Aug 3 1970 12:00AM