Highway Sign Support Structures. Volume 1. Break-Away Roadside Sign Support Structures

摘要

The basic concept of the break-away sign support is to provide a structure that will resist wind loads yet fail, at preselected locations, when struck by a vehicle. With three properly designed connections at critical locations the support will be stable and will possess the break-away characteristics when struck by a vehicle. The major objective of the research was to provide information for the design of safe break-away cantilever supports. Emphasis was placed on developing design recommendations for the three critical connections. The information was developed through laboratory tests and the use of a mathematical model and confirmed through full-scale crash tests and indications of in-service performance from accident records. Alternative types of roadside sign supports were subjected to full-scale crash tests to determine performance characteristics. (BPR abstract)