Performance Level 1 Tests on the Nebraska Open Concrete Bridge Rail

Performance Level 1 Tests on the Nebraska Open Concrete Bridge Rail
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 152
Release: 1992
Genre: Bridge railings
ISBN:

A safety performance evaluation of the 29-in. Nebraska Open Concrete Bridge Rail was conducted for the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR). The evaluation included computer simulation modelling and two full-scale vehicle crash tests. The two crash tests were conducted to evaluate structural adequacy of concrete posts adjacent to a gap and the reduced reinforcement in the concrete rail, respectively.

Crash Testing and Evaluation of Retrofit Bridge Railings and Transition

Crash Testing and Evaluation of Retrofit Bridge Railings and Transition
Author: Eugene Buth
Publisher:
Total Pages: 172
Release: 1997
Genre: Bridge railings
ISBN:

An assortment of retrofit bridge railings and a retrofit transition were evaluated through full-scale crash testing. The assortment included: (1) a W-beam retrofit railing for a concrete baluster bridge railing (AASHTO performance level one); (2) a W-beam transition for the bridge railing above (NCHRP Report 350 test level two); (3) a double-tube pedestrian/bicycle railing mounted on the Illinois 2399-1 traffic railing (AASHTO performance level one); (4) a vandal protection fence on the New Jersey concrete safety shape bridge railing (AASHTO performance level two); and (5) a thrie beam retrofit railing, a Delaware design, mounted on a 203-mm-high safety curb (AASHTO performance level two and NCHRP Report 350 test level four). All of the designs demonstrated acceptable performance.

Evaluation of Bridge Approach Rails

Evaluation of Bridge Approach Rails
Author: Roger P. Bligh
Publisher:
Total Pages: 200
Release: 1992
Genre: Bridge railings
ISBN:

A recent study on the performance of guardrail-to-bridge rail transitions revealed that many widely used designs do not meet current safety standards. As a result, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requested that the Arizona Department of Transportation verify the safety performance of its standard transition designs. Three transition designs currently being used by ADOT were evaluated through a combined program of computer simulation and full-scale crash testing. The standard ADOT wood post transition, incorporating a channel rubrail and two different sizes of timber posts at a reduced post spacing near the bridge rail end, was found to be in compliance with National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 230 performance criteria. The standard ADOT steel post transition with channel rubrail was also found to be in compliance with NCHRP Report 230 requirements when impacted near the end of the bridge rail. However, the upstream end of the steel post transition required modification to eliminate deficiencies identified during testing. The modified design, which terminated the channel rubrail behind a W6x9 guardrail post, was successfully crash tested. A recent study on the performance of guardrail-to-bridge rail transitions revealed that many widely used designs do not meet current safety standards. As a result, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requested that the Arizona Department of Transportation verify the safety performance of its standard transition designs. Three transition designs currently being used by ADOT were evaluated through a combined program of computer simulation and full-scale crash testing. The standard ADOT wood post transition, incorporating a channel rubrail and two different sizes of timber posts at a reduced post spacing near the bridge rail end, was found to be in compliance with National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 230 performance criteria. The standard ADOT steel post transition with channel rubrail was also found to be in compliance with NCHRP Report 230 requirements when impacted near the end of the bridge rail. However, the upstream end of the steel post transition required modification to eliminate deficiencies identified during testing. The modified design, which terminated the channel rubrail behind a W6x9 guardrail post, was successfully crash tested.