AN INVESTIGATION OF THE SUITABILITY OF LAKE STATES TIMBER SPECIES FOR GUARDRAIL POSTS. EVALUATION OF GUARDRAIL POSTS IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN

This document is the Final Report for Phase II of a two phase project. In Phase I a proposed wood guardrail post specification was prepared. In the study reported here in-service wood guardrail posts were sampled and evaluated. Wood guardrail post can satisfactorily perform their intended function, provided they are constructed of quality material and are in good condition. A survey was made of existing wood guardrail posts in the State of Michigan to provide descriptions of the posts and their condition, and to determine their performance patterns. Results of the survey indicate those characertistics and factors that have the most significant effect upon condition and performance of wood guardrail posts. The evaluation of these characteristics provide a basis for making preliminary recommendations regarding inspection and maintenance procedures that would efficiently control the quality and contribute to the general performance of wood guardrail posts in the State of Michigan. (Author)

• Corporate Authors:

  Michigan Technological University, Houghton

  Institute of Wood Research
  Houghton, MI  United States  49931

  Michigan Department of Transportation

  State Transportation Building, 425 West Ottawa Street, P.O. Box 30050
  Lansing, MI  United States  48909

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Adams, R D
  • Larsen, A M
  • LUND, A E
• Publication Date: 1984-1

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 37 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Guardrails; Performance; Posts; Timber; Wood
• Uncontrolled Terms: Field performance
• Old TRIS Terms: Timber (Structural)
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Highways; Materials; Safety and Human Factors; I35: Miscellaneous Materials; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00451657
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-MI-RD-85-03
• Contract Numbers: 97239
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 27 2004 9:12PM