VEHICULAR CRASH TESTS OF UNANCHORED SAFETY--SHAPED PRECAST CONCRETE MEDIAN BARRIERS WITH PINNED END CONNECTIONS

Four vehicular crash tests of three different unanchored precast concrete mediam barrier (CMB) designs with pinned end connections are reported. Large size passenger cars weighing about 4900 lbs impacted the barriers at speeds/angles of 65 mph/7 deg, 68 mph/23 deg 66 mph/40 deg, and 39 mph/25 deg. Barrier tilting and excessive lateral barrier movement contributed to vehicle vaulting and hazardous vehicle trajectories in two tests. The barriers for these same two tests were extensively damaged. Vehicles were redirected in two moderate impact tests. Based on the results of the four crash tests and a limited field survey, recommendations restricting the use of precast CMB segments with pinned end connections for temporary and permanent barrier installations and stressing the need for tightner barrier joints to minimize lateral and rotational barrier movement are included. Further research is suggested.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Conducted in cooperation with DOT, Federal Highway Administration.
• Corporate Authors:

  California Department of Transportation

  Transportation Laboratory
  5900 Folsom Boulevard
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95819
• Authors:
  • Parks, D M
  • Stoughton, R L
  • Stoker, J R
  • Nordlin, E F
• Publication Date: 1976-8

Media Info

• Pagination: 83 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash tests; Crashes; Field studies; Median barriers; Precast concrete; Testing; Vehicles
• Subject Areas: Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00158062
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWACADOTTL662417652Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: D-4-107 HP&R
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 13 1977 12:00AM