DESIGN LOADS FOR GUARDRAILS
THE LOAD ON A GUARDRAIL CONSISTS OF A MOVING VEHICLE APPROACHING THE RAIL AT SOME ANGLE AND CONTACTING THE RAIL AT THE GENERAL LEVEL OF THE WHEELS. THE WEIGHT OF PASSENGER VEHICLE WHICH SHOULD BE USED IN DESIGN WAS OBTAINED FROM NEW CAR REGISTRATIONS. THE WEIGHTS OF TRUCKS AND BUSSES WERE OBTAINED FROM HIGHWAY PLANNING SURVEY DATA OF A REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF STATES. SPEEDS WHICH SHOULD BE USED IN DESIGN WERE OBTAINED FROM TRAFFIC STUDIES MADE IN ILLINOIS AND MARYLAND CORROBORATED BY REPORTS OF OTHERS. HEIGHT OF CONTACT WAS DETERMINED FROM A STUDY OF WHEEL SIZES. ANGLE OF CONTACT WAS ASSUMED BASED ON POSSIBLE SKIDDING AROUND CURVES. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT GUARDRAIL BE CONSTRUCTED WITH THE CENTER 19 INCHES ABOVE GROUND TO RESIST VEHICLES APPROACHING IT AT AN ANGLE OF 16 DEGREES. IF PASSENGER VEHICLES ARE TO BE CONSIDERED THE GUARDRAIL SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO RESIST A VEHICLE WEIGHING 4,000 LB. MOVING AT 50 MILES PER HOUR FOR ROADS WHOSE DESIGN SPEEDS ARE 60 OR 70 MILES PER HOUR AND AT 40 MILES PER HOUR FOR ROADS WHOSE DESIGN SPEEDS ARE 30, 40, AND 50 MILES PER HOURS. IF ALLOWANCE IS TO BE MADE FOR BUSSES A VEHICLE WEIGHING 20,000 LB. MOVING AT THE SAME SPEEDS AS PASSENGER VEHICLES SHOULD BE USED IN DESIGN. IF ALLOWANCE IS TO BE MADE FOR TRUCKS A VEHICLE WEIGHING 14,000 LB. MOVING AT 40 AND 32 MILES PER HOUR, RESPECTIVELY, SHOULD BE USED IN DESIGN. /AUTHOR/
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Supplemental Notes:
- Vol 19, pp 131-147, 7 FIG, 3 TAB. 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.
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Authors:
- Barnett, J
- Brickman, A E
- Publication Date: 1940
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Monograph Title: Proceedings of the Nineteenth Annual Meeting of the Highway Research Board Held at Washington, D.C. December 5-8, 1939
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Serial:
- Highway Research Board Proceedings
- Volume: 19
- Publisher: Highway Research Board
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Design load; Guardrails; Structural design
- Subject Areas: Design; Highways;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00203538
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS, TRB
- Created Date: Oct 3 1971 12:00AM