IMPACT PERFORMANCE AND AN EVALUATION CRITERION FOR MEDIAN BARRIERS

This study involves the determination of the impact performance of the Texas metal beam guard fence median barrier and a comparison of its performance with that of the Texas concrete median barrier. The metal beam guard fence consists of two standard W-shaped guardrails mounted back to back on a support post; the concrete barrier is a solid concre e barrier. The impact performance of the guard fence was determined from a combination of crash tests and from crash simulations by the Highway-Vehicle-Object Simulation Model. Standard-sized automobiles were used in both the crash tests and the crash simulations. A close comparison of tests and simulated results verified the accuracy of the model in simulating impacts with the metal guard fence. The impact performance of the concrete barrier was obtained from another study. Inspection of 135 median barrier impacts on various urban freeways in Texas was made to determine the distribution of impact angles. These field measuremens, supplemented by data from the highway simulation model, provided impact angle probabilities as a function of median widths. This study provides an evaluation criterion that can be used for objectively comparing the impact severity of the metal beam guard fence and the concrete median barrier as a function of the median's dimensions. The criterion is based on a design speed of 60 mph (97 km/h) and on impacts with a full-sized automobile.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/586/586-004.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=IMPACT+PERFORMANCE+AND+AN+EVALUATION+CRITERION+FOR+MEDIAN+BARRIERS&author=H.+Ross&author=J.+Nixon&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309025508
• Supplemental Notes:
  • 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.
• Authors:
  • Ross Jr, Hayes E
  • Nixon, John F
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 32-49
• Monograph Title: Design for Crash Survival of Automobile Occupants
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 586
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Concrete; Crash tests; Evaluation; Guardrails; Measuring instruments; Simulation; Urban highways
• Uncontrolled Terms: Criteria
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00141517
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309025508
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-019 611
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Nov 17 1976 12:00AM