TRANSITIONS FROM GUARDRAIL TO BRIDGE RAIL THAT MEET SAFETY PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
2000
Subject Area
operations - performance, planning - safety/accidents, organisation - performance, organisation - structures, mode - rail
Keywords
W beams, Tubular structures, Thrie beams, NCHRP Report 350, Impact tests, Guiderails, Guardrails, Guardrail transition sections, Guard rails, Guard fences, Crash tests, Collision tests, Bridge rails, Bridge railings
Abstract
Three guardrail-to-bridge rail transitions were developed and subjected to full-scale crash tests. The transitions were (a) a nested W-beam with W-beam rub rail that transitioned from a W-beam guardrail to a vertical concrete parapet bridge rail, (b) a nested thrie-beam that transitioned from a W-beam guardrail to a tubular steel bridge rail, and (c) a tubular steel transition that transitioned from a weak-post box-beam guardrail to a tubular steel bridge rail. The nested W-beam and the tubular steel transitions were tested and met NCHRP Report 350 Test Level (TL)-3 requirements. The nested thrie-beam transition was tested and met TL-4 requirements.
Recommended Citation
Buth, C, Menges, W, Mak, K, Bligh, R. (2000). TRANSITIONS FROM GUARDRAIL TO BRIDGE RAIL THAT MEET SAFETY PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS. Transportation Research Record, Vol. 1720, p. 30-43.
