TEST AND EVALUATION OF TRAFFIC BARRIERS. FINAL REPORT

A series of crash tests was conducted to evaluate several types of guardrails and bridge rails. Two bridge rail designs were tested and showed acceptable performance when evaluated in accordance with NCHRP 230. A three-cable guardrail was modified, and an end terminal was redesigned to obtain good performance. The guardrail safely redirected a large and small vehicle traveling at 60 mi/h and impacting at 25 and 20 degrees, respectively. The terminal design was tested for snagging by directly impacting the downstream end. Although the device released, the vehicle rolled over. A new PL3 median barrier was designed and tested in accordance with the new AASHTO bridge rail test criteria. A 50,000-lb tractor-trailer impacted the median barrier at 50 mi/h and 15 degrees. The truck was redirected and contained, but rolled over producing undesirable occupant compartment intrusion. An 18,000-lb truck test was conducted on the modified three beam median barrier. The results indicated good performance.

• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/68283
• Corporate Authors:

  ENSCO, Incorporated

  5400 Port Royal Road
  Springfield, VA  United States  22151

  Federal Highway Administration

  Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, 6300 Georgetown Pike
  McLean, VA  United States  22101
• Authors:
  • STOUT, D
  • Hinch, J
• Publication Date: 1989-4

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Pagination: 184 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge railings; Crash tests; Crashes; Design; Guardrail terminals; Guardrails; Impact; Median barriers; Motor vehicles; Performance evaluations; Rollover crashes; Speed; Testing; Tractor trailer combinations; Traffic speed; Vehicle size
• Uncontrolled Terms: Impact angle; Redirection
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Motor Carriers; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00488102
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/RD-89/119
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-86-C-00020
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 30 1989 12:00AM