DYNAMIC FIELD TEST OF WOODEN SIGNPOSTS

RESULTS ARE REPORTED OF 10 TESTS OF WOODEN SIGNPOSTS TO DETERMINE THEIR BREAKAWAY CHARACTERISTICS WHEN VARIOUS PLANES OF WEAKNESS WERE INTRODUCED INTO THE POSTS. DIFFERENT SIZES OF HOLES OR NOTCHES AS PLANES OF WEAKNESS WERE INTRODUCED INTO THE POSTS. DYNAMIC TESTS, SIMULATING AUTOMOBILE COLLISIONS, WERE ACCOMPLISHED BY TOWING THE TEST VEHICLE TO 40 MPH AND RELEASING IT 100 FT PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE POST. TEST RESULTS INDICATE THAT HOLES ARE EQUIVALENT TO NOTCHES FOR REDUCING THE POST SECTION AT THE GROUND LINE, BUT THE PLANE OF WEAKNESS INTRODUCED UNDER THE SIGN DID NOT FUNCTION. RESULTS ALSO INDICATE THAT SAFETY WOULD BE PROVIDED IF SIGNS WERE MOUNTED WITH A CLEARANCE OF 6 TO 7 FT BETWEEN THE GROUND LINE AND THE BOTTOM OF THE SIGN AND IF STRONGER BOLTS WERE USED TO CONNECT THE SIGN TO THE POST. POSTS WITH 4- BY 4-IN. CROSS SECTIONS DO NOT REQUIRE A PLANE OF WEAKNESS. /AUTHOR/

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/sr/sr107/107-017.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • 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
• Corporate Authors:

  Highway Research Board (HRB)

  Washington, DC   
• Authors:
  • Sankey, Foster C
• Conference:
  • Second Western Summer Meeting
  • Location: Salt Lake City Utah, United States
  • Date: 1969-8-11 to 1969-8-13
• Publication Date: 1970

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 158-168
• Monograph Title: Highway safety
• Serial:
  • Highway Research Board Special Report
  • Issue Number: 107
  • Publisher: Highway Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Breakaway supports; Crash tests; Crashes; Dynamic tests; Field tests; Holes; Sign supports; Signs; Testing; Wood
• Old TRIS Terms: Notch; Sign structures
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00209196
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jul 21 1970 12:00AM