Final Report Link: Design and Evaluation of MASH TL-5 Concrete Median Barrier with Shallow Embedment
| TTI Research Supervisor: Nauman M. Sheihk Research Engineer Texas A&M Transportation Institute TAMU 3135 College Station, Texas 77843-3135 (979) 845-8955 [email protected] |
Pooled Fund Technical Representative: James Danila Assistant State Traffic Engineer Massachusetts Department of Transportation (857) 368-9640 [email protected] |
This research project designed and tested a single slope concrete median barrier installed with shallow embedment in asphalt. The barrier was required to meet the crash performance criteria of Test Level 5 (TL-5) of American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH).
Researchers developed the design of the barrier anchorage in asphalt using dynamic finite element impact simulations. Results of the simulations were used to optimize the embedment depth needed to anchor the barrier segments. Researchers recommended the final design for crash testing.
A full-scale MASH Test 5-12 was performed. This test involved the 79,300-lb MASH 36000V tractor-trailer vehicle impacting the median barrier while traveling at a nominal speed of 50 mi/h and 15 degrees impact angle. This report provides details of the simulation analysis, design of the TL-5 concrete median barrier with shallow embedment, details of the crash test performed, crash test results, and the performance assessment of the barrier for MASH TL-5 criteria for longitudinal barriers. The concrete median barrier with shallow embedment met the performance criteria for MASH Test 5-12 for longitudinal barriers.
MASH Tests 5-10 and 5-11 were not performed. They were considered less critical due to successful past testing of similar single slope barrier systems. Based on the results of the new Test 5-12, the embedded single slope median barrier is considered a MASH TL-5 barrier system.
Updated December 18, 2024