BRIDGE DECK DESIGNS FOR RAILING IMPACTS. FINAL REPORT

Current specifications by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges set forth certain structural design requirements for bridge railings and the corresponding bridge decks. Observations of deck failure patterns in recent crash tests and observed deck failures at vehicle collision sites have raised questions concerning current specifications. The Texas Transportation Institute, in conjunction with the Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation, has been studying the problem on three types of bridge rails used in Texas. Full-scale deck sections with a post, a parapet, or an 8 ft section of concrete safety shaped railing were built and tested. The three types tested were the Texas T101, T202, and T5 bridge railings. The findings of this testing are reported herein.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Research performed in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration. Research Study Title: Bridge Deck Designs for Railing Impacts.
• 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 Transportation

  Transportation Planning Division, P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Arnold, A
  • Hirsch, T J
• Publication Date: 1985-8

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 64 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge decks; Bridge design; Bridge railings; Bridges; Crash tests; Median barriers; Specifications; Structural design
• Old TRIS Terms: Concrete safety shapes
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00457709
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-TX-85-17+295-1F
• Contract Numbers: Study 2-5-81-295
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1986 12:00AM