Evaluation of Recycled Content Guardrail Posts
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 128, Issue 2
Abstract
In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the use of recycled materials in highway-related areas by state agencies and research organizations. In the present paper, guardrail posts manufactured from recycled materials are evaluated for possible use in conventional strong-post guardrail systems. Basic physical and mechanical properties of posts are determined through static laboratory tests such as flexure, creep, and density. Their response to environmental variables such as temperature, moisture, and freeze/thaw are investigated through exposure tests. The dynamic response performance of the posts is determined using pendulum impact tests. Static cantilever bending tests have shown that recycled posts are more flexible than conventional wood and steel posts; however, the ultimate load capacities for several recycled posts are comparable to that of conventional posts. The pendulum test results show that the energy absorption of some of the recycled posts is as high as that of conventional wood posts. As a result, the overall performance of recycled posts compares favorably with conventional posts.
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References
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 128 • Issue 2 • March 2002
Pages: 156 - 166
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 31, 2000
Accepted: May 29, 2001
Published online: Mar 1, 2002
Published in print: Mar 2002
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