MULTIPLE SERVICE LEVEL BRIDGE RAILINGS--PERFORMANCE AND DESIGN CRITERIA

This paper provides an overview of the Mutliple Service Levels Approach (MSLA), the development of bridge railing service level selection criteria, bridge railing performance, design considerations, and application of findings. The objective of MSLA is to provide a level of motorist protection consistent with the degree of traffic hazards present at a highway site. Based on this approach, higher service level devices are indicated for locations where collisions are numerous and severe; and lower service level devices are indicated for relatively safe or improbable accident locations. A discussion of the MSLA for selecting bridge railing designs for particular highway sites includes vehicle containment, probability of barrier impact, probability of vehicle impact conditons, Collision Severity Index (CSI), bridge railing service levels, and bridge railing service level selection procedure. A discussion of bridge railing performance predictions and design criteria is also presented. The multiple service bridge railing approach is considered to be a major change from current recognized practice. This approach takes into account the trend toward standardization of bridge rail systems and presents a technique for selecting the most appropriate system for particular site conditions. The multiple service level bridge rail procedures presented in this paper are applicable to existing bridges as well as new construction. Currently available barrier simulation computer programs provide insight for existing barrier systems as well as new designs. It is considered necessary to evaluate new and upgraded designs by crash test to prove the containment capacity.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared for presentation at 63rd Annual Meeting of AASHTO, Atlantic City, New Jersey, October 31, 1977-November 2, 1977.
• Corporate Authors:

  Southwest Research Institute

  6220 Culebra Road, P.O. Drawer 28510
  San Antonio, TX  United States  78228-0510
• Authors:
  • Bronstad, M E
  • Michie, J D
• Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 15 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge railings; Bridges; Crashes; Design; Guardrails; Highway safety; Level of service; Simulation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Design criteria
• Old TRIS Terms: Barrier design; Barrier rails
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00167882
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 26 1978 12:00AM