FIBERGLASS LUMINAIRE SUPPORTS. TECHNICAL VOLUME. FINAL REPORT

A series of five capability tests was conducted on three fiberglass luminaire support poles by Mobility Systems and Equipment Company. The test articles were embedded in S-1 soil as per NCHRP 230 recommendations. The test vehicles used for all five impact tests were 1979 Volkswagen Rabbits with the test mass adjusted to be in the range of 1800 lb plus or minus 50 lb. A triaxial accelerometer was placed at the vehicle c.g. to record the vehicle decelerations. Each test event was covered with one real-time and three high-speed movie cameras. The data acquired from the tests were processed as per NCHRP 230 procedure. The results were evaluated against the dynamic performance requirements specified in the most recent AASHTO and NCHRP 230 documents. The results show that the tested fiberglass poles had difficulty in completely breaking away at the lower test speed of 20 mi/h. The poles did break away at higher test speed of 60 mi/h, however, the falling pole imparted significant damage to the passenger compartment as it fell on top of it. The detailed test and evaluation results and the test reports are presented in this final report.

• Corporate Authors:

  Mobility Systems and Equipment Company

  6151 West Century Boulevard, Suite 912
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90045

  Federal Highway Administration

  Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, 6300 Georgetown Pike
  McLean, VA  United States  22101
• Authors:
  • KHADILKAR, A V
  • Beckage, M
  • Fladmark, G
• Publication Date: 1987-4

Media Info

• Pagination: 171 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Breakaway supports; Compact automobiles; Crash tests; Crashes; Deceleration; Fiberglass; Loss and damage; Luminaires; Miniature automobiles; Motor vehicles; Speed; Testing; Traffic speed; Videotapes
• Old TRIS Terms: High speed cameras; Miniautomobiles; Real time cameras; Test results
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00469234
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/RD-87/065, FCP 31T3-282, R6043-Final
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-86-Z-00073
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 1988 12:00AM