Critical Impact Point for Longitudinal Barriers
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 124, Issue 1
Abstract
A procedure for identifying critical impact points (CIP) for longitudinal barriers is presented. The procedure is based on computer simulations of longitudinal barrier impacts using the Barrier VII computer program. Critical impact points were selected to maximize wheel snagging and rail tensile loadings. The procedure is based on the finding that the critical impact point is largely dependent on the strength of the posts and the rail bending strength. Thus, the CIP selection procedure relies only on the effective post yield force per unit barrier length and the rail plastic moment. The technique can be applied to all post and beam barriers as well as transitions involving one of these types of barriers. This procedure has been incorporated into the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Beedle, L. S. (1958). Plastic design of steel frames. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y.
2.
Bligh, R. P., et al. (1988). “Development of guardrail to bridge rail transition.”Res. Rep. No. 461-1F, Texas Transp. Inst., Texas A&M Univ., College Station, Tex.
3.
Bligh, R. P., and Sicking, D. L. (1990). “Application of barrier VII in the design of flexible barriers.”Transp. Res. Record 1233, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 117–123.
4.
Bronstad, M. E., and Michie, J. D. (1974). “Recommended procedures for vehicle crash testing of highway appurtenances.”NCHRP Rep. No. 153, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.
5.
Bronstad, M. E., Calcote, L. E., Ray, M. H., and Mayer, J. B. (1988). “Guardrail-bridge rail transition designs.”Res. Rep. No. FHWA-RD-86-178, Vol. I, Southwest Res. Inst., San Antonio, Tex.
6.
Calcote, L. R. (1977). “Development of a cost-effectiveness model for guardrail selection.”Final Rep. on Contract No. DOT-FH-11-8827, Southwest Res. Inst., San Antonio, Tex.
7.
Dewey, J. F., et al. (1983). “A study of the soil-structure interaction behavior of highway guardrail posts.”Res. Rep. No. 343-1, Texas Transp. Inst., Texas A&M Univ., College Station, Tex.
8.
Eggers, D. W., and Hirsch, T. J. (1986). “The effects of embedment depth, soil properties, and post type on the performance of highway guardrail post.”Res. Rep. No. 405-1, Texas Transp. Inst., Texas A&M Univ., College Station, Tex.
9.
Michie, J. D. (1981). “Recommended procedures for the safety performance evaluation of highway appurtenances.”NCHRP Rep. No. 230, Transp. Res. Board, Washington, D.C.
10.
Powell, G. H. (1973). “A computer program for evaluation of automobile barrier systems.”Rep. No. DOT-RD-73-51, FHwA, U.S. Dept. of Transp., Washington, D.C.
11.
Rohde, J. R., Rosson, B. T., Smith, R. (1996). “Instrumentation for determination of guardrail-soil interaction.”Transp. Res. Rec. No. 1528, Transp. Res. Board, Washington, D.C., 109–115.
12.
Ross, H. E., Jr., Sicking, D. L., Zimmer, R. A., and Michie, J. D. (1993). “Recommended procedures for the safety performance evaluation of highway features.”NCHRP Rep. No. 350, Transp. Res. Board, Washington, D.C.
13.
Stout, D., Hinch, J., and Sawyer, D. (1990). “Guardrail testing program.”Final Rep. on Contract No. DTFH71-87-C-00002, Ensco, Inc., Springfield, Va.
14.
Stout, D., Hinch, J., and Yang, T. L. (1988). “Force-deflection characteristics of guardrail posts.”Final Rep. on Contract No. DTFH61-85-C-00099, Ensco, Inc., Springfield, Va.
15.
Transportation Research Board (TRB) (1978). “Recommended procedures for vehicle crash testing of highway appurtenances.”Transportation Research Circular 191, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Jan 1, 1998
Published in print: Jan 1998
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.