The document summarizes research conducted by the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility on innovations and improvements to roadside and median barriers. It describes the development of the Midwest Guardrail System (MGS) to improve performance over traditional W-beam guardrails for high center of gravity vehicles. The MGS was modified to be 31 inches tall and underwent full-scale crash testing. Additional research optimized the MGS for applications such as long spans over culverts, attachment to bridges and culverts, and use on slopes. Stiffened portable concrete barriers were also researched to minimize deflections without anchorage.
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Innovations in Roadside and Median Barriers Research
1. Innovations and Research in
Roadside and Median Barriers
Ronald K. Faller, Ph.D., P.E.
Assistant Director & Research Assistant Professor
Midwest Roadside Safety Facility (MwRSF)
Nebraska Transportation Center
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
2012 MINK Local Roads Conference
Stoney Creek Inn
St. Joseph, Missouri
September 26-27, 2012
2. Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
Introduction
• 1.3 million traffic deaths & 50 million injuries per
year around world – significant societal impact
• 34,000 traffic deaths & 2.2 million injuries in 2009
in U.S. (NHTSA)
• ⅓ of fatal crashes w/ fixed objects
• Barrier innovations & ongoing research
Midwest Guardrail System (MGS)
long-span over culverts, low-cost bridge rail, side-mounted
attachment to culverts, MSE wall applications, non-blocked steel
post, rectangular wood post, minimum length
Stiffened Portable Concrete Barriers (PCBs)
2
3. Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
Midwest Guardrail System (MGS)
• Sponsored by Midwest States Pooled Fund
Program
• 50+yrs use strong-post W-beam guardrails
• Early W-beam systems designed for full-size
sedans & small cars
• Varied performance for 27” W-beam guardrail
• Metrication to 27¾” w/ many acceptable variations
• Improve performance for high c.g. vehicles
3
4. Test No. 4798-7
1,963 kg/95.3 km/hr/24.0 deg
686 mm (27 in.) Height
Vehicle Rollover (Failure)
Dynamic Deflection = 28.1 in.
4
5. Test No. 471470-27 Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
2,075 kg/101.4 km/hr/26.1 deg
686 mm (27 in.) Height
Vehicle Rollover (Failure)
Dynamic Deflection = 35.8 in.
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6. Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
Test No. MIW-1
2,007 kg/99.8 km/hr/25.8 deg
686 mm (27 in.) Height
Vehicle Rollover (Failure)
Dynamic Deflection = 39.4 in.
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16. Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
MGS Bridge Railing
• Sponsored by Midwest States Pooled Fund
Program
• Research Objectives
TL-3 guidelines of MASH
low-cost bridge rail for rural highways & county roads
available for use on bridges, including longer than 25 ft
minimize deck width
easy post replacement
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24. Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
MGS Bridge Rail Adapted to Box Culverts
• Sponsored by Midwest States Pooled Fund
Program
• Research Objectives
TL-3 guidelines of MASH
low-cost guardrail for rural highways & county roads
available for use on culverts, including longer than 25 ft
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44. Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
Non-Blocked MGS on Level Terrain
• Sponsored by Midwest States Pooled Fund
Program
• Research Objectives
TL-3 guidelines of MASH
44
45. Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
MGS w/o Blockouts
Midspan
12” Backup Splice
Plate
6-ft W6x9
Steel Post
5/8” dia. x 1½” long
(splice bolts)
48. Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
MGS w/ Rectangular SYP Posts
• Sponsored by Midwest States Pooled Fund
Program
• Research Objectives
TL-3 guidelines of MASH
48
49. Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
MGS with SYP Posts
12” Blockout
6”x8”x6’
SYP Post
5/8” x 22” Long
Bolt
31” Rail Height
53. Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
Blocked MGS: Wood vs. Steel Post
Pickup Truck Small Car
Evaluation Criteria MGS MGS Wood MGS MGS Wood
Steel Post Post Steel Post Post
OIV: Longitudinal (ft/s) 15.3 13.3 14.8 15.7
OIV: Lateral (ft/s) 15.6 14.7 17.1 20.9
ORA: Longitudinal (g’s) 8.2 8.1 16.1 13.0
ORA: Lateral (g’s) 6.9 8.5 8.4 9.3
Dynamic Deflection (in.) 43.9 40.0 28.6 22.2
IS (kip-ft) 122.3 115.5 55.0 56.4
54. Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
Minimum Effective Length of MGS
• Sponsored by Wisconsin Department of
Transportation
• Research Objectives
minimum system length of MGS
barrier deflections for various system lengths
TL-3 guidelines of MASH
• 75-ft minimum length for full-scale crash testing
historical length for crash testing – 175 ft
prior recommendations for minimum length, excluding
bridge approach sections – 175 ft
56. Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
Lateral Stiffening of PCBs w/o Anchorage
• Sponsored by Wisconsin Department of
Transportation
• Research Objectives
minimize barrier deflections without anchorage to bridge
decks
utilize MwRSF’s 12.5-ft long F-shape PCB
TL-3 guidelines of MASH
57. Free-Standing F-Shape PCB
MASH
Test No. 2214TB-2
2270P Pickup Truck
62.0 mph & 25.4 deg
D.D. ≈ 80 in.
58. Midwest Roadside Safety Facility
Modular Double Tube & Bent Plate
2 ft
5”x5”x3/16” steel tubes
10-gauge cover plate