DEVELOPMENT OF A SAFE END TREATMENT FOR W-BEAM-ON BARRELS BARRIER

The objective of this study was to develop a safe end treatment for W-Beam-On-Barrels Barrier (WEBB). The WEBB terminal currently used in Texas was first tested and found to be unacceptable in terms of impact performance. A modified terminal consisting of a stand up barrier end attached to a steel drum by a W-beam end section (buffer' was developed. Two full scale vehicular crash tests were conducted to evaluate the impact behavior of the design. Since the WEBB is a low performance level, temporary barrier it was decided that test conditions (vehicle weight, impact speed and impact angle) recommended for higher performance level permanent roadside appurtenances were not appropriate. The basic difference between the selected conditions and those recommended for permanent installations involved the impact speed. A 50 mph (80.5 km/h) impact speed was used in lieu of the 60 mph speed used for permanent installations. As a result of the crash testing it was concluded that the design was acceptable in terms of impact performance. (Author)

• Record URL:
  • https://library.ctr.utexas.edu/hostedpdfs/tti/262-6F.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/85141
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Research performed in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, Research Study Title: Safety Devices for Highway Work Zones.
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas State Department of Highways & Public Transportation

  Transportation Planning Division, P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763

  Texas Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
  Arlington, TX  United States  76011

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Sicking, D L
  • Ross Jr, H E
  • Gaugler, B
• Publication Date: 1984-11

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
• Pagination: 63 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash tests; Drum containers; Steel structures; Traffic barriers
• Uncontrolled Terms: W beams
• Old TRIS Terms: Barrel barriers; Drums
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00395901
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-TX-85-35+262-6FFinal Rpt., Res Rpt 262-6F
• Contract Numbers: Study 2-18-79-262
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 31 1987 12:00AM