Development and Crash Testing of An Aesthetic,IS RECORD AND See-Through Bridge Rail, Type 90.

摘要

A newly developed aesthetic bridge rail, the Type 90, was tested in accordance with NCHRP Report 350. The bridge rail is a steel post and beam system atop a concrete curb with a reverse slope of 5.2DG from vertical on the traffic side. The reverse-slope raises the reaction point of impacting vehicles, reducing the potential for vehicle roll. The concrete curb is 550 mm high and the total height of the rail is 925 mm. The steel rail consists of a 254x102x6.4-mm tube steel beams with 178x127x7.9-mm tube steel posts spaced 3 m apart. The barrier tested was about 24 m long and was constructed at the Caltrans Dynamic Test Facility in West Sacramento, California. Three crash tests were conducted under Report 350 Test Level 4, one with a 2000-kg pickup truck, one with an 820- kg small car, and one with an 8000-kg single unit van truck. The results of the three tests were within the limits of the Report 350 guidelines. The Type 90 bridge rail is recommended for approval on California highways requiring TL-4 bridge rails. Since it is symmetric, the Type 90 is also recommended in locations where a reverse hit is possible.