VEHICULAR CRASH TEST OF A CONTINUOUS CONCRETE MEDIAN BARRIER WITHOUT A FOOTING

A vehicular impact test, 4700 lb (2130 kg) vehicle/61 mph (27 m/s)/26 degrees (0.46 rad), was conducted on a continuous New Jersey concrete median barrier (CMB) without a footing cast on an asphalt concrete surface. The test barrier contained two continuous longitudinal No. 4 (12.7 mm) steel reinforcing bars one at 6 inches (152 mm) and the other at 12 inches (305 mm) down from the top of the barrier. There were no contraction or construction joints in the barrier. The barrier was allowed to crack randomly. The barrier suffered no structural damage and did not move laterally or rotate about its longitudinal axis during the impact. After being redirected by the barrier, the vehicle rolled over. Based on this test, the CMB designs used in California have been changed. The 10 inch (254 mm) deep concrete footing has been eliminated from both the Type 50 standard 32 inch (813 mm) high New Jersey barrier design and the Type 50C New Jersey CMB design. The Type 50C design is used for superelevated transitions and at other locations where the offset in elevation between opposing roadways varies up to 3 feet (914 mm). Three longitudinal No. 4 (12.7 mm) steel reinforcing bars have been added to the Type 50 and 50C CMB designs. /Author/

• 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: 1977-8

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References;
• Pagination: 38 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt concrete; Concrete construction; Continuous structures; Cracking; Crash tests; Crashes; Footings; Material reinforcement; Median barriers; Testing
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Research;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00177297
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-CA-TL6883-77-22Final Rpt., FCP 41G1-212
• Contract Numbers: D-4-151
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 29 1978 12:00AM