TRB Pubsindex
Text Size:
x

« Prev Next »

Return to Results | New Search

Bookmark and Share

Title:

Limits of Acceptable Rail-and-Post Deflection in Crash-Damaged Strong-Post W-Beam Guardrail

Accession Number:

01150992

Record Type:

Component

Availability:

Transportation Research Board Business Office

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States
Order URL: http://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/Highway_Design_2010_165053.aspx

Find a library where document is available


Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309160711

Abstract:

The guidelines for the testing of strong-post W-beam guardrail, intended to ensure the safety of errant vehicles, are specified in NCHRP Report 350. A limitation of these tests is that they are always performed on new, undamaged guardrail, whereas guardrail along highways is in a continuous cycle of damage and repair. No tests have ever evaluated the performance of deflection-damaged guardrail. A full-scale, two-part crash test was conducted to evaluate the performance of a guardrail with 14.5 in. (368 mm) of prior crash damage. When this guardrail was struck by a 4,409-lb (2000-kg) pickup truck traveling at 62 mph (100 km/h), the vehicle vaulted and came to rest upright behind the barrier. A critical factor was the failure of a post to separate from the rails. Finite element models were used to evaluate the guardrail performance at lower levels of deflection. The crash tests and finite element models demonstrated that rail-and-post deflection of 11 in. (279 mm) or higher resulted in vaulting or rollover. Repair was recommended for strong-post W-beam guardrail with combined rail-and-post deflection exceeding 6 in. (152 mm). This limit allows a margin of safety for variations in soil strength and vehicle height. The existence of rail-only deflection had a minimal effect on the crash performance up to the maximum tested value of 6 in.

Monograph Title:

Highway Design 2010

Monograph Accession #:

01331160

Report/Paper Numbers:

10-2189

Language:

English

Authors:

Hampton, Carolyn E
Gabauer, Douglas J
Gabler, Hampton C

Pagination:

pp 95-105

Publication Date:

2010

Serial:

Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board

Issue Number: 2195
Publisher: Transportation Research Board
ISSN: 0361-1981

ISBN:

9780309160711

Media Type:

Print

Features:

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

Uncontrolled Terms:

Damage (Guardrails); W-beam guardrail

Subject Areas:

Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure

Files:

PRP, TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Created Date:

Jan 25 2010 11:00AM

More Articles from this Serial Issue: