TTI Research Supervisor: William F. Williams, P.E. Associate Research Engineer Texas A&M Transportation Institute TAMU 3135 College Station, Texas 77843-3135 (979) 317-2707 [email protected]
Pooled Fund Technical Representative: Carlos Torres, P.E. Crash Barrier Engineer Geometric Design Unit, Design Division Michigan Depart. of Transportation P. O. Box 30050 Lansing, MI 48909 (517) 335-2852 [email protected]
ABSTRACT:
The purpose of this research was to investigate the crashworthiness of a thrie-beam retrofit bridge rail with respect to MASH Test Level 3 (TL-3) performance criteria. This new bridge rail can be anchored to a concrete curb without removing the existing obsolete or historical bridge rail that is already in place. The research team designed and tested this new retrofit bridge rail for this project. The research team evaluated the structural capacity and the occupant risk factors of this new thrie-beam retrofit bridge rail design with respect to MASH TL‑3 criteria through full-scale crash testing.
The crash tests reported herein were performed in accordance with MASH TL-3 longitudinal barriers, which involves two tests on the Thrie Beam Bridge Rail Retrofit. The Thrie Beam Bridge Rail Retrofit met the performance criteria for MASH TL‑3 longitudinal barriers.
