CRASH TESTS OF LIGHT-POST THRIE-BEAM TRAFFIC BARRIERS

Thrie-beam corrugated steel rail (a W-beam that has a third corrugation) was tested as a single-rail upgrading for discontinuous bridge-rail panels and on S3X5.7 posts as a guiderail and double-faced median barrier. Tests were performed to determine rail deflection characteristics, structural adequacy, vehicle decelerations, and vehicle damage. Ten-gage Thrie beam was used for all tests. As a bridge-rail upgrading, the Thrie beam is suitable for 60-mph, 25 deg. impacts by 4500-lb vehicles. As a guiderail or median barrier on S3X5.7 posts, it appears suitable as a longitudinal barrier, based on tests with 2250-lb and 3500-lb vehicles. Proposed design deflections for Thrie-beam guiderails and median barriers are close to those for box-beam guiderails and median barriers. Further testing of these guiderail and median-barrier designs would yield better definition of impact and redirection characteristics and would better indicate what actions could be taken to reduce the impact between the vehicle's wheel and the posts. (Authors)

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1981/796/796-007.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=CRASH+TESTS+OF+LIGHT-POST+THRIE-BEAM+TRAFFIC+BARRIERS&author=J.+Bryden&author=K.+Hahn&publication_year=1981
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Safety Appurtenances. 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:

  Transportation Research Board

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• Authors:
  • Bryden, James E
  • Hahn, Kenneth C
• Conference:
  • 60th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1981-1-12 to 1981-1-16
• Publication Date: 1981

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 41-50
• Monograph Title: HIGHWAY SAFETY APPURTENANCES
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 796
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Barriers (Roads); Bridge railings; Corrugated metals; Crash tests; Deceleration; Deflection; Guardrails; Lighting columns; Loss and damage; Median barriers; Posts; Steel rails; Support poles; Thrie beams; Vehicles; Wheels
• Uncontrolled Terms: Barriers; Redirection
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00341617
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309032105
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Nov 23 1981 12:00AM