PENDULUM TESTING OF BCT WOOD POSTS. FOIL TESTS: 91P039 THROUGH 91P045

In the summer of 1991, a research project was conducted at the Federal Outdoor Impact Laboratory (FOIL) in McLean, Virginia, to investigate vehicle side impacts with guardrail terminal ends. Four terminal end designs were tested using 1985 Honda Civics. The four designs were a standard breakaway cable terminal (BCT), an eccentric loader terminal, a modified eccentric loader terminal (MELT), and a MELT for side impact. The first three designs were tested and the terminals did not function as anticipated. The lead posts of the terminal did not break away. A study was conducted to investigate the breakaway performance of the lead wood post. The wood post performance testing was conducted at the FOIL using the facility's 1850-lb (839-kg) pendulum. These tests were conducted on both used and new wood posts at 20 mi/h (32 km/h). This report documents the results of seven 20-mi/h (32-km/h) pendulum tests to measure the breakaway force required to break away a BCT post. Tests conducted on five standard BCT posts varied from post to post. However, even the weakest BCT post demonstrated a breakaway force higher than an automobile door could produce. Therefore, two posts were modified to reduce the required breakaway force. Explanations for the variance in performance between standard BCT posts are discussed.

• Corporate Authors:

  Advanced Technology and Research, Incorporated

  14900 Sweitzer Lane
  Laurel, MD  United States  20707

  Federal Highway Administration

  Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, 6300 Georgetown Pike
  McLean, VA  United States  22101
• Authors:
  • BROWN, C M
• Publication Date: 1991-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 32 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Breakaway supports; Crash tests; Eccentricity; Guardrail terminals; Impact; Intermodal terminals; Loaders; Pendulum tests; Performance tests; Posts; Side crashes; Speed; Wood
• Uncontrolled Terms: Breakaway cable terminals; Impact speed; Wood posts
• Old TRIS Terms: Eccentric loader terminals; Federal outdoor impact laboratory; Modified eccentric loader terminals
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00720076
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-RD-95-023, 4A5E0182
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-91-Z-00002
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Apr 4 1996 12:00AM