MASH TL-3 Crash Testing and Evaluation of the T631 Bridge Rail

MASH TL-3 Crash Testing and Evaluation of the T631 Bridge Rail
Author: William F. Williams (Transportation engineer)
Publisher:
Total Pages: 153
Release: 2016
Genre: Automobiles
ISBN:

The Texas Type T631 bridge rail was developed as a low-cost, flexible bridge rail system for TL-2 applications. Many of the features used for the system tested at MxRSF for TL-3 were incorporated into the design developed for this project for MASH TL-2 application. The TxDOT Type T631 bridge rail was designed, developed, and evaluated under MASH TL-2. The objective of this research was to evaluate the impact performance of the new TxDOT Type T631 bridge rail to MASH TL-3. The TxDOT Type T631 bridge rail was intended to serve as a low-cost replacement for the TxDOT Type T6 bridge rail for MASH TL-2 applications. The crash testing was performed in accordance with the requirements of MASH TL-3. The TxDOT T631 Bridge Rail performed acceptably for MASH TL-3.

Crash Test and Evaluation of the TxDOT T224 Bridge Rail

Crash Test and Evaluation of the TxDOT T224 Bridge Rail
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 102
Release: 2018
Genre: Automobiles
ISBN:

The objective of thei research was to evaluate the impact performance of the TxDOT T224 Bridge Rail according to the safety performance evaluation guidelines included in AASHTO MASH for test level five (TL 5). This report describes the TxDOT T224 Bridge Rail, documents the impact performance of the rail system according to MASH TL-5 evaluation criteria, and presents recommendations regarding implementation.

TL-4 Crash Testing of the F411 Bridge Rail

TL-4 Crash Testing of the F411 Bridge Rail
Author: Dean C. Alberson
Publisher:
Total Pages: 54
Release: 2004
Genre: Bridge railings
ISBN:

Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) frequently receive requests to provide aesthetically pleasing traffic rails for use on select bridges and roadways. TxDOT, in response to providing context sensitive design alternatives, initiated a project to develop additional aesthetically pleasing rail alternatives. Under a previous TxDOT project, the F411 bridge rail was constructed and crash tested to Test Level 3 (TL-3). The TL-3 test is a 4405-lb (2000 kg) pickup impacting the railing at 25 degrees and 62.2 mi/h (100 krn/h). This test requires both containment and stability, and non-overturning. Since some breakage of the parapet is possible, potential for vehicle snagging is likely. Vehicle snagging can contribute to vehicle instabilities in the redirection sequence and potential rollover. The TxDOT F411 bridge rail contained and redirected the vehicle, which remained upright during and after the collision period. The bridge rail met the required specifications for NCHRP Report 350 test 3-11. The objective of this research is the full-scale crash test and evaluation of the F411 to Test Level 4 (TL-4). The most direct approach for accomplishing the objectives of this task is to perform a full-scale TL-4 crash test of this railing design. The TL-4 vehicle is a single-unit box-van truck impacting the railing at 15 degrees and 49.7 mi/h (80 krn/h). While containment is required, overturning of the vehicle 90 degrees is an acceptable test outcome. The TxDOT F411 bridge rail performed acceptably for NCHRP Report 350 test 4-12. Based on the performance of the F411 bridge rail in the full-scale crash test to TL-4 test conditions, the F411 may be used where containment of 18,000 lb single-unit trucks is desired.

Crash Testing and Evaluation of the Modified T77 Bridge Rail

Crash Testing and Evaluation of the Modified T77 Bridge Rail
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 76
Release: 2003
Genre: Bridge railings
ISBN:

Under a previous study, Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) worked cooperatively to conceptualize and develop two aesthetically pleasing and crashworthy rail designs. The rails were designated the T77 and F411. Researchers performed and evaluated full-scale crash tests on the new rails in accordance with National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350 test 3-11. The TxDOT F411 bridge rail performed acceptably according to the evaluation criteria of NCHRP Report 350. However, the T77 design failed to perform acceptably with the pickup truck. The objective of this project was to modify the TxDOT T77 bridge rail to perform as an aesthetically pleasing and crashworthy bridge rail. TTI and TxDOT worked cooperatively to modify the design to make the rail perform satisfactorily. Researchers performed full-scale crash tests in accordance with NCHRP Report 350. The T77 bridge rail was modified so it would perform in accordance with the evaluation criteria for NCHRP Report 350 test 3-11.

Testing and Evaluation of the Florida Jersey Safety Shaped Bridge Rail

Testing and Evaluation of the Florida Jersey Safety Shaped Bridge Rail
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 102
Release: 2004
Genre: Bridge railings
ISBN:

The objectives of this portion of the project were to: 1) determine if any or all of the three subject variants of the 32-inch (813 mm) Jersey safety shaped bridge railing comply with the requirements of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications and National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350 Test Level 4 (TL4), and 2) provide recommended retrofit schemes, if deemed technically and economically feasible, to bring into compliance the railings that do not comply. Full or partial replacement schemes may also be recommended as appropriate. The most direct approach for accomplishing the objectives of this task was to perform a full-scale crash test of the most critical design. If that railing performed satisfactorily, the railing would be acceptable by AASHTO LRFD Specifications. The strength test was selected, NCHRP Report 350 test 4-12, a single-unit van-type truck weighing 17,6211b (8000 kg). The TL-4 vehicle is a single-unit box-van truck impacting the railing at 15 degrees and 49.7 mi/h (80 kmIh). While containment is required, overturning of the vehicle is an acceptable test outcome. However, Test Level 3 (TL-3) is a 4405-lb (2000 kg) pickup impacting the railing at 25 degrees and 62.2 mi/h (l00 kmIh). This test requires both containment and stability, and non-overturning. Since some breakage of the parapet is possible, potential for vehicle snagging is likely. Vehicle snagging can contribute to vehicle instabilities in the redirection sequence and potential rollover. Therefore, researchers chose both TL-4 and TL-3 tests. According to the results of this project, no field retrofits or replacements of the Florida Jersey safety shaped bridge rails, depicted in the Florida DOT Index 799, are warranted since the most critical 32-inch (813 mm) Jersey safety shaped bridge railing complied with the requirements of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications and NCHRP Report 350 Test Levels 3 and 4.