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Title:

Analysis and Full Scale Crash Test of a High Containment Bridge Rail

Accession Number:

01368626

Record Type:

Component

Abstract:

Bridge rails are built to safely redirect errant vehicles so as to protect occupants and without excessively damaging the bridge rail structures. Criteria to evaluate performance of bridge rails are described in details in working standards like the National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 350 “Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features” and European Norm (EN) 1317. In this paper, predictive finite element analyses and subsequent full scale crash tests are presented for a high containment bridge rail design. The bridge rail design was analyzed using nonlinear finite element method using the conditions of EN-1317 tests TB-11 and TB-71. EN-1317 test TB-11 involves a 900 kg passenger car impacting the barrier at a speed of 100 km/h and an angle of 20 degrees. EN-1317 test TB-71 involves a 30,000 kg heavy goods vehicle (HGV) impacting the barrier at a speed of 65 km/h and an angle of 20 degrees. Based on the simulation, design changes were made to the shape of the barrier and starter reinforcement bars between the bridge deck and the rail. New analyses of the modified design were conducted and the results indicated a good likelihood of passing the EN-1317 test criteria. Subsequently, two full scale crash tests (EN-1317 tests TB-11 and TB-71) of the bridge rail system were conducted. The tests shows reasonable agreement with the finite element simulations and the rail system is considered passed per EN-1317 criteria for containment level H4a.

Supplemental Notes:

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AFB20 Roadside Safety Design

Monograph Accession #:

01362476

Report/Paper Numbers:

12-4489

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Authors:

Abu-Odeh, Akram
Bligh, Roger
Silvestri, Chiara

Pagination:

18p

Publication Date:

2012

Conference:

Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting

Location: Washington DC, United States
Date: 2012-1-22 to 2012-1-26
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board

Media Type:

Digital/other

Features:

Figures; Photos; References; Tables

Subject Areas:

Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure

Source Data:

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2012 Paper #12-4489

Files:

TRIS, TRB

Created Date:

Feb 8 2012 5:24PM