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Title:

MULTIPLE SERVICE LEVEL BRIDGE RAILINGS--PERFORMANCE AND DESIGN CRITERIA

Accession Number:

00183805

Record Type:

Component

Availability:

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Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309026970

Abstract:

The current AASTHO Specification provides designers with static design criteria and/or crash test criteria to qualify a bridge railing system. Accordingly, a bridge railing system meeting the AASHTO specifications is used on any bridge regardless of vehicle mix, traffic volume, and speed and bridge geometry. The Multiple Service Levels Approach (MSLA) procedure for selecting bridge railings is a new approach differing markedly from traditional practice. The objective of the MSLA is to provide a level of motorist protection consistent with the degree of traffic hazards present at a highway site. With the MSLA, the degree of risk is the combined measurement of the probability of an impact occurrence, the probability of collision severity and the consequences of that impact occurrence. Accordingly, the procedures described in this paper consider encroachment rates, traffic volume, vehicle mix, category speed, shoulder widths, and horizontal alignment as these factors relate to probability of an impact occurring and the severity probability of the impacts. Using a collision severity index as an indicator of bridge railing performance requirements, six service levels were established. By setting critical impacts corresponding to a uniform probability factor, service level requirements are determined for a site. Thus, using the MSLA procedures, a designer selects a higher service level device at locations where collisions are numerous and severe; and lower service level devices are indicated for the relatively safe or improbable accident locations. Since the higher service devices are generally more costly to construct, highway safety funds can be more wisely expended by selecting the service level appropriate for each location. /Author/

Supplemental Notes:

This paper appeared in Transportation Research Record No. 665, Bridge Engineering, Volume 2. Proceeding of a conference conducted by the Transportation Research Board, September 25-27, 1978.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

Monograph Title:

Bridge Engineering. Volume 2

Monograph Accession #:

01489599

Authors:

Bronstad, M E
Michie, J D

Pagination:

pp 245-254

Publication Date:

1978

Serial:

Transportation Research Record

Issue Number: 665
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
ISSN: 0361-1981

Conference:

Bridge Engineering Conference, 1st, 1978, St Louis, Missouri, USA

Location: St Louis Missouri, United States
Date: 1978-9-25 to 1978-9-28
Sponsors: Federal Highway Administration; Federal Railroad Administration

ISBN:

0309026970

Media Type:

Print

Features:

Figures (4) ; References (14) ; Tables (6)

Old TRIS Terms:

Subject Areas:

Bridges and other structures; Design; Geotechnology; Highways

Files:

TRIS, TRB

Created Date:

Dec 12 1978 12:00AM

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