BRIDGE RAIL TO RESTRAIN AND REDIRECT BUSES

A standard Texas traffic rail Type T202 27 in. high was strengthened and modified so that it could restrain and redirect school and intercity buses under 60 mph (96.6 km/hr) 15 deg angle impacts. A semi-elliptical extruded aluminum rail was mounted on cast aluminum posts to increase the rail height to 42 in. (107 cm). Three crash tests were conducted on the bridge rail. The first test was with a 66-passenger school bus weighing 19,690 lb (8,931 kg) and impacting the rail at 54.4 mph (87.6 km/hr) at a 15 deg angle. The bus was smoothly redirected. The second test was with an 1800 lb (817 kg) minicar with front wheel drive and impacting the rail at 59.4 mph (95.6 km/hr) at a 15 deg angle. The vehicle was redirected but the small front wheel did penetrate the 13 in. (.33 m) opening under the concrete beam and snagged a post. The third test was with an intercity bus weighing 32,080 lb (14,562 kg) and impacting the rail at 61.1 mph (98.3 km/hr) at a 15 deg angle. The intercity bus was restrained and smoothly redirected. These tests have shown that a simple and economical rail can redirect school and intercity buses at speeds up to 60 mph (96.6 km/hr) and 15 deg angle impact. The cost of this rail is estimated at about $41 per foot.

• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
  Arlington, TX  United States  76011

  Texas State Department of Highways & Public Transp

  P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Hirsch, T J
• Publication Date: 1981-2

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 71 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aluminum; Bridge railings; Bus transportation; Buses; Compact automobiles; Costs; Crash injury research; Crashes; Front wheel drive; Intercity bus lines; Research; School buses
• Uncontrolled Terms: Redirection
• Old TRIS Terms: Small car
• Subject Areas: Design; Finance; Highways; Motor Carriers; Public Transportation; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00334525
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-81-12+230-3, Res Rpt. 230-3, FCP 41T3-033
• Contract Numbers: Res Study 2-5-78-230
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Oct 28 1981 12:00AM