Vehicle Crash Tests of the Aesthetic, See-through Concrete Bridge Rail with211 Sidewalk, Type 80SW (Revised)

摘要

An aesthetic, see-through concrete bridge rail with sidewalk. Type 80SW. was211u001ebuilt and tested in accordance with NCHRP Report 350. The Type 80SW is an 810 mm-211u001etall, reinforced concrete barrier on a 200 mm-high sidewalk. The rail has 280 mm-211u001ehigh by 1620 mm-long gaps, 230 mm above the sidewalk surface. The rail is fitted 211u001ewith a single mental tube spanning the gap and a 250 mm-high handrail attached to 211u001ethe top of the concrete barrier. The barrier tested was 22.8 m-long and was 211u001econstructed at the Caltrans Dynamic Test Facility in West Sacramento, California. 211u001eA total of four crash tests were conducted under Report 350 test level 4, two 211u001ewith 820 kg cars, one with a 2000 kg pickup truck and one with an 8000 kg single 211u001eunit van truck. The first test of the 820 kg car showed a potential snagging 211u001eproblem on one of the vertical members. The potential with the first car led to a 211u001ereduction in the vertical gap from 310 mm to 280 mm and a retest with a different 211u001ecar. The second test did not show snagging problems, with all results within the 211u001eguidelines. The hood of the 2000 kg pickup snagged on a vertical handrail support 211u001etube during impact causing minor occupant compartment deformation. Since this 211u001ebridge rail is intened for pedestrian use and alone does not provide for 211u001epedestrian protection, it should only be used in low speed applications of 70 211u001ekm/h or less. In addition, the handrail has been found to be a snagging hazard at 211u001ethe higher speed. For these two reasons, the Type 80SW is recommended for 211u001eapproval on California highways requiring TL-2 bridge rails.