FULL-SCALE TESTS OF A MODIFIED COLLAPSING-RING BRIDGE RAIL SYSTEM (ABRIDGMENT)

Design modifications are noted and the restuls are presented of testing of the CRBRS (collopsing-ring bridge rail system) that was developed to withstand impacts by large vehicles such as buses and trucks and also does not impact high accelerations to impacting smaller vehicles. The results of 4 test series (summarized and tabulated) revealed-that the modified or translating basepost design was effective in reducing heavy vehicle roll angles. The modified post provides forgiving stroke when less than the total 45.7-cm (18-in) stroke of the ring is available for energy absorption. The CRBRS can restrain articulated vehicles weighing up to 31 751 kg (70,000 lb) in 72.4-km/h (45 mph), 10-deg collisions and 18 144 kg (40,000 lb) in 88.5-km/h (55 mph), 14-deg impacts. Successful redirection of an 18 144-kg (40,000 lb) intercity bus in an 86.9-km/h (54 mph) impact at 15 deg was demonstrated.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/594/594-008.pdf
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=FULL-SCALE+TESTS+OF+A+MODIFIED+COLLAPSING-RING+BRIDGE+RAIL+SYSTEM+(ABRIDGMENT)&author=C.+Kimball&author=M.+Bronstad&author=J.+Michie&author=J.+Wentworth&author=J.+Viner&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Safety Appurtenances. 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:
  • Kimball, C E
  • Bronstad, M E
  • Michie, J D
  • Wentworth, J A
  • Viner, J G
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 27-31
• Monograph Title: Photogrammetry, water quality, safety appurtenances, and shoulder design
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 594
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge railings; Collapse; Crash tests; Energy absorption; Heavy vehicles; Rollover crashes; Vehicles
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00148946
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 030902563X
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 13 1977 12:00AM