DYNAMIC TESTS OF THE MODIFIED CALIFORNIA TYPE 20 BRIDGE BARRIER RAIL

THE RESULTS OF SEVEN VEHICLE IMPACT TESTS INTO THE MODIFIED CALIFORNIA TYPE 20 BRIDGE BARRIER RAIL ARE REPORTED. THE MODIFIED TYPE 20 BRIDGE RAIL IS A RIGID SYSTEM WHICH FEATURES A 20 INCH HIGH REINFORCED LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE "SAFETY SHAPE" PARAPET. A 2 X 2 BY 1/4 INCH STRUCTURAL STEEL TUBE RAIL IS MOUNTED 12 INCHES ABOVE THE PARAPET ON FABRICATED STEEL POSTS. THE OVERALL BARRIER HEIGHT IS 32 INCHES. TESTS WERE CONDUCTED AT IMPACT VELOCITIES AND APPROACH ANGLES RANGING FROM APPROXIMATELY 46 MPH/5 DEG. TO 72 MPH/25 DEG. TEST RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE MODIFIED TYPE 20 DESIGN WILL REDIRECT A PASSENGER VEHICLE IMPACTING AT UP TO 65 MPH/15 DEGREES. THE RESULTING VEHICLE DAMAGE IS MORE SEVERE THAN THAT SUSTAINED IN SIMILAR IMPACTS OF THE STANDARD TYPE 20 DESIGN. THE LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE PARAPET WAS NEITHER STRUCTURALLY OR GEOMETRICALLY ADEQUATE TO RETAIN THE TEST VEHICLE IMPACTING AT 72 MPH/25 DEGREES. IT WAS THEREFORE CONCLUDED THAT THE MODIFIED TYPE 20 DESIGN TESTED IN THIS STUDY WAS LESS EFFECTIVE THAN THE STANDARD TYPE 20 DESIGN. /FHWA/

• Corporate Authors:

  California Department of Transportation

  Materials and Research Division, 1720 N Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95807
• Authors:
  • Stoker, J R
  • Hackett, R P
  • Doty, R N
  • Pelkey, R A
  • Nordlin, E F
• Publication Date: 1972-12

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Approach; Barriers (Roads); Bridge railings; Crash tests; Dynamic tests; Lightweight concrete; Loss and damage; Parapets; Reinforced concrete; Safety equipment; Steel; Tubing
• Uncontrolled Terms: Approach angle; Barriers
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00219783
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: California Department of Transportation
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jun 5 1974 12:00AM