Develop a Retrofit Design for Guard Fence System to Enhance Motorcycle Safety

Report Number(s): 0-6994-R1

Description: The test installation was 181 ft 3 inches long, with a DAT terminal at each end. It consisted of 156 ft 3 inches of timber posts and 14-inch tall blockouts, spaced at 75 inches, which supported a W-beam traffic rail, a rubrail below the W-beam, and a cap rail that covered the top of the posts and blockouts. The top edge of the W-beam was at 31 inches above grade. The 7½-inch diameter timber posts were 68 inches long, with a flat top instead of domed. The bottom edge of the rubrail was 1½ inches above grade for the 469940 tests and 1 inch above grade for the 469942 and 466943 tests. A bracket made of a bent plate secured the rubrail to the posts. The rubrail was parallel to the posts for the 469940 tests, at 10 degrees for the 469942 test, and at 20 degrees for the 469943 tests. The rubrails for the 469940 tests were 12 ft 10 inches long, with two bolts at each joint. The rubrails for the 469942 and 469943 tests were 13 ft 2 inches long, with four bolts at each joint. They were 14¾ inches wide for all tests. The channel rubrail with a 10-degree incline was selected for further evaluation through full-scale crash testing.

Test Level: 3

MASH Test Number: 3-10, 3-11

Proprietary/Non-proprietary: Proprietary

Pass/Fail: Pass

Evaluation: Testing + Engineering Analysis

Sponsor: TxDOT & FHWA