Lower and Upper Rail Elements with Midwest Guardrail System to Address Motorcycle Safety

Report Number(s): 9-1531-R2B

Description: The installation consisted of a guardrail system with a standard four-space W-beam guardrail secured to the top of the rail 31 inches above grade by steel 72-inch W6×8.5 posts and wood blockouts. A series of 12-ft 10-inch-long, 14¾-inch-wide rub rails were located just below the W-beam such that the bottom was 1 inch from grade and were held away from the posts by a rub rail bracket at a 20-degree angle. A series of 12-ft 10-inch-long and 15-inch-wide cap rails were placed over the top of the guardrail posts and blockouts. The posts were evenly spaced at 75 inches, with a consistent embedment of 36⅛ inches, and the W-beam and both rails ran the entire length of need of 156 ft 3 inches. The installation was capped on both ends by a steel post terminal system, for a total installation length of 181 ft 3 inches.

Test Level: 3

MASH Test Number: 3-10, 3-11

Proprietary/Non-proprietary: Proprietary

Pass/Fail: Pass

Evaluation: Full-Scale Crash Testing

Sponsor: Motorcycle Safety Pooled Fund & TxDOT