Abstract:
The use of road restraint systems along roads has a long tradition in Germany. Mostly you will find steel guardrails although concrete barriers are installed more and more. Each guardrail has a beginning and an end, unless there is a closed line in the median. These parts of a system are critical because it is difficult to ensure the whole containment capacity at that point. Furthermore, it should not create a hazard to impacting vehicles. But the beginning and the end of road restraint systems can also have the function of an anchorage. It is obvious for a country like Germany, where safety plays an important role, that national design guidelines for road restraint systems also cover these parts of a road restraint system. This presentation reviews the history of end treatments of safety barriers in Germany. Today, Germany regards turned-down ends positively tested in accordance to European Normative standard ENV 1317-4 or in future EN 1317-7 as the best practical solution for wide use on roads to begin and end a steel guardrail. In addition these end treatments ensure the function of the anchorage of the system so that containment (or redirection) is provided close to the anchorage.
