Deck-Mounted Steel Post Barrier System
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 12, Issue 4
Abstract
An existing mountable safety barrier system, previously crash tested successfully on a wood bridge deck, was evaluated for use on a fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) bridge deck. In an attempt to avoid expensive full-scale crash testing, components of the existing system were evaluated using worst case conditions on two dynamic bogie crash tests and a series of computer simulations using nonlinear finite-element analysis. Simulation results closely approximated the physical results, with both displaying similar deformation, damage, and force levels. Both testing and simulation demonstrated that the barrier should function sufficiently if used on the FRP deck system. Further, the development of an accurate model makes it possible to evaluate the potential success of the existing system for use on other bridge decks. As an example, a more rigid bridge deck, similar to reinforced concrete, was evaluated. Results showed that due to the stiffer deck, more of the impact energy must be absorbed by the posts and attachment hardware, resulting in significantly more deformation than when used on the flexible FRP deck.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The writers wish to acknowledge the following organizations for their help and support: the Kansas Department of Transportation, the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, Kansas Structural Composites, BG Consultants, and Livermore Software Technology Corporation. The simulation work performed during this project was completed utilizing the Research Computing Facility of the University of Nebraska—Lincoln.
References
Faller, R. K., Ritter, M. A., Rosson, B. T., Fowler, M. D., and Duwadi, S. R. (2000). “Two test level 4 bridge railing and transition systems for transverse timber deck bridges.” Transportation Research Record. 1696, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 334–351.
Hallquist., J. O. (2003). LS-DYNA keyword user’s manual, version 970, Livermore Software Technology Corporation, Livermore, Calif.
Hascall, J. A. (2005). “Investigating the use of small-diameter softwood as guardrail posts.” Master’s thesis, Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.
Reid, J. D., and Hiser, N. R. (2005). “Detailed modeling of bolted joints with slippage,” Finite Elem. Anal. Design, 41, 547–562.
Ross, H. E., Sicking, D. L., Zimmer, R. A., and Michie, J. D. (1993). “Recommended procedures for the safety performance evaluation of highway features.” National Cooperative Research Program (NCHRP) Rep. No. 350, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Apr 10, 2006
Accepted: Aug 7, 2006
Published online: Jul 1, 2007
Published in print: Jul 2007
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.