CONCRETE SAFETY BARRIERS FOR ROADS

This article proposes the use of concrete safety barriers in the United Kingdom as an alternative to the widely used flexible metal type. Operational experience abroad has shown that a suitably designed concrete barrier is capable of preventing a vehicle from leaving the road and redirecting it with little damage to both vehicle and barrier. A typical crash barrier design as developed in the United States is described. If a vehicle collides with the barrier the front tyre contacts a 75mm high vertical kerb which tends to slow and begin to straighten the vehicle. After overcoming initial resistance the wheel climbs a 55 degrees slope and any overturning moment of the vehicle is overcome by compressing the vehicle suspension system. At low angle impacts this takes place without the vehicle body hitting the barrier. Above the 55 degrees slope is the almost vertical upper section. At high impact speeds and angles this section completes the redirection and deceleration of the vehicle. A number of applications of concrete crash barriers are cited, including road dividers as an integral part of an earth retaining wall, and as protection for power, drainage or communication services. The potential savings in construction and maintenance costs are also stressed. /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  IPC Building and Contract Journals Limited

  32 Southwark Bridge Road
  London SE1 9EX,   England 
• Publication Date: 1975-7-18

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 34-35
• Serial:
  • Surveyor - Public Authority Technology
  • Volume: 147
  • Issue Number: 4337
  • Publisher: IPC Building and Contract Journals Limited

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Angularity; Concrete; Concrete structures; Costs; Curbs; Fences; Guardrails; Highway grades; Motor vehicles; Slopes; Speed; Traffic barriers; Traffic speed
• Uncontrolled Terms: Angles; Barriers
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom; United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Safety fence (Excludes guard rail)
• ITRD Terms: 6427: Angle; 4755: Concrete; 224: Cost; 2806: Gradient; 2917: Kerb; 1686: Safety fence; 5408: Speed; 8119: United Kingdom; 8122: USA
• Subject Areas: Finance; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00129670
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 7 1976 12:00AM