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.

Testing and Evaluation of the New York Two-rail Curbless and Four-rail Curbless Bridge Railing and the Box-beam Transition

Testing and Evaluation of the New York Two-rail Curbless and Four-rail Curbless Bridge Railing and the Box-beam Transition
Author: C. Eugene Buth
Publisher:
Total Pages: 227
Release: 1999
Genre: Automobiles
ISBN:

The objective of this study was to crash test and evaluate the New York Two-Rail Curbless and FourRail Curbless Bridge Railings, and the box beam transition. Under the first part of the study, the Two-Rail and Four-Rail bridge railings were evaluated to National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350 test level 4 (TL-4). To evaluate to TL-4, three full-scale crash tests on the length of need (LON) of the longitudinal barrier, or bridge railing, are required. These include an 820-kg passenger car impacting the critical impact point (CIP) at a nominal impact speed and angle of 100 km/h and 20 degrees, a 2000-kg pickup truck impacting the CIP at a nominal impact speed and angle of 100 km/h and 25 degrees, and an 8000-kg single-unit truck impacting the CIP at a nominal impact speed and angle of 80 km/h and 15 degrees. After evaluation of the two bridge railings, New York DOT and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) decided to evaluate a box-beam transition attached to the New York Four-Rail Curbless Bridge Railing. NCHRP Report 350 test designation 3-21, which is the 2000-kg pickup truck impacting the CIP of the transition at 100 km/h and 25 degrees, was performed on the transition. This report presents the details and results of all six crash tests performed under this contract.

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.