Development of an Effective Flared Guardrail Terminal

Development of an Effective Flared Guardrail Terminal PDF Author: B. G. Pfeifer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Roads
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The Breakaway Cable Terminal (BCT), which has been used for a number of years to terminate w-beam guardrail in Kansas and a number of other states, does not always perform adequately when impacted by small vehicles. As a result of this poor performance, it has recently been disallowed by the FHWA for use on high speed, high volume roads on the National Highway System. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), and other states, felt that there was a need for a non-proprietary end terinal which met the current crash test standards of Test Level 3 of NCHRP Report 350. In this test, computer simulation and component testing was undertaken to evaluate the concept of flattening areas of the rail used in the terminal in order to reduce the force required to buckle the rail. Several dynamic bogie tests as well as one full-scale test were conducted. The design selected for evaluation under full scale crash test conditions consisted of a thrie beam flattened at two locations. The thrie beam was selected for testing because it had the best potential for successfully redirecting a pickup at 100 km/h and 20 degrees, as required by the new NCHRP Report 350 test criteria. Although the full-scale vehicle crash test failed to meet the required criteria, it was determined that this concept had the potential for success.

Development of an Effective Flared Guardrail Terminal

Development of an Effective Flared Guardrail Terminal PDF Author: B. G. Pfeifer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Roads
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The Breakaway Cable Terminal (BCT), which has been used for a number of years to terminate w-beam guardrail in Kansas and a number of other states, does not always perform adequately when impacted by small vehicles. As a result of this poor performance, it has recently been disallowed by the FHWA for use on high speed, high volume roads on the National Highway System. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), and other states, felt that there was a need for a non-proprietary end terinal which met the current crash test standards of Test Level 3 of NCHRP Report 350. In this test, computer simulation and component testing was undertaken to evaluate the concept of flattening areas of the rail used in the terminal in order to reduce the force required to buckle the rail. Several dynamic bogie tests as well as one full-scale test were conducted. The design selected for evaluation under full scale crash test conditions consisted of a thrie beam flattened at two locations. The thrie beam was selected for testing because it had the best potential for successfully redirecting a pickup at 100 km/h and 20 degrees, as required by the new NCHRP Report 350 test criteria. Although the full-scale vehicle crash test failed to meet the required criteria, it was determined that this concept had the potential for success.

Improved Guardrail Terminal: Development of a BEST Terminal to Comply with NCHRP 350 Requirements

Improved Guardrail Terminal: Development of a BEST Terminal to Comply with NCHRP 350 Requirements PDF Author: B. G. Pfeifer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 159

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Development and Simulation of an Energy Absorbing Guardrail Terminal

Development and Simulation of an Energy Absorbing Guardrail Terminal PDF Author: Brian G. Pfeifer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 324

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Book Description


Roadside Design Guide

Roadside Design Guide PDF Author: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Task Force for Roadside Safety
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Roads
Languages : en
Pages : 560

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Development of a Generic Energy-absorbing Approach End Terminal for the Midwest Guardrail System

Development of a Generic Energy-absorbing Approach End Terminal for the Midwest Guardrail System PDF Author: Jordan T. Wipf
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Guardrail end terminals are often used to shield approach ends of roadside guardrail systems as well as protect errant motorists from the risk of rail penetration through the vehicle and/or rapid deceleration. Energy-absorbing end terminals absorb an errant vehicle’s kinetic energy through rail deformation, or other means, in order to safely decelerate the vehicle in a controlled manner. Most modern energy-absorbing terminals are proprietary, and few terminals have passed the safety evaluation criteria published in the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO’s) Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) in order to be installed with the Midwest Guardrail System (MGS). State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) are faced with a need to install energy-absorbing, guardrail end terminals that meet current MASH impact safety criteria. Thus, the Midwest Pooled Fund Program member states deemed it desirable to develop a new generic energy-absorbing guardrail end terminal. Thus, this Phase I study was conducted to perform preliminary analysis and design of a preferred concept or prototype. This initial effort included an investigation of patents and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) eligibility letters to identify energy-absorbing terminals and their energy-absorption methods. Next, brainstorming was conducted to identify methods that could be used in a new terminal, after which preliminary design calculations and drawings were completed. Thereafter, several project paths and preliminary concepts were presented to the sponsor, followed by additional calculations and brainstorming. The final terminal prototype and its geometry was investigated and designed using results obtained through computer simulation using 3-D nonlinear finite element analysis software, LS-DYNA. This analysis included simulated impacts with end terminal hardware translating down a W-beam guardrail segment. A complete prototype drawing set was produced and submitted to local fabricators to obtain a cost quote, which revealed that the prototype was too complicated to fabricate and more expensive than desired. Finally, additional brainstorming and design refinement was performed using LS-DYNA, which was directed to simplify fabrication, reduce end terminal cost, and decrease the resistance force during translation along the rail. Conclusions were drawn, and recommendations were presented for continuing this work in a second phase..

Development of New Guardrail End Treatments

Development of New Guardrail End Treatments PDF Author: Dean Sicking
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Roads
Languages : en
Pages : 262

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Development of a Metal Cutting W-beam Guardrail Terminal

Development of a Metal Cutting W-beam Guardrail Terminal PDF Author: Brian G. Pfeifer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Roads
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Special Report

Special Report PDF Author: National Research Council (U.S.). Highway Research Board
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Highway engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 428

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Developing an In-service Performance Evaluation (ISPE) for Roadside Safety Features in Texas

Developing an In-service Performance Evaluation (ISPE) for Roadside Safety Features in Texas PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Roads
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
Current methodologies for the in-service performance evaluation (ISPE) of roadside safety features are not viable and practical for all state departments of transportation. The research team developed an ISPE process that is sensitive to the data and resource constraints of Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The following methodology was used to develop The TxDOT-ISPE process: identify the objectives of the ISPE, estimate expected extent of data collection, evaluate existing DOT procedures and organizational structure, identify features to be included in the ISPE, develop framework for an ideal ISPE, identify system constraints within the DOT, identify alternative methodologies and data sources for the ISPE, design DOT-specific ISPE process, design and conduct a pilot test of the ISPE, evaluate the data collection methodology and data quality during the pilot test, and recommend an ISPE process for TxDOT.

Evaluation of the Guard Rail Energy Absorbing Terminal (G-R-E-A-T) Impact Attenuator

Evaluation of the Guard Rail Energy Absorbing Terminal (G-R-E-A-T) Impact Attenuator PDF Author: William C. Walters
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Roads
Languages : en
Pages : 16

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Book Description