Crash Testing and Evaluation of the HDOT 34-in. Tall Aesthetic Concrete Bridge Rail with Pedestrian Handrail

Report Number(s): TRP-03-466-22

Description: The test installation consisted of two 11-ft long and three 22-ft long concrete barrier segments and had a total length of 88 ft. As noted previously, the HDOT 34-in. Tall, Aesthetic Concrete Bridge Rail with Pedestrian Handrail system was constructed for evaluation of the LON of the bridge rail. Thus, no end sections of the rail were constructed. The rail was constructed in five segments separated by four expansion joints to be consistent with previously tested rail designs [1, 3]. The spacing between the expansion joints was limited to 22 ft, which was the smallest rail segment length between joints noted by HDOT. Larger rail segment lengths between expansion joints were considered less critical. The HDOT 34-in. Tall, Aesthetic Concrete Bridge Rail with Pedestrian Handrail was installed on the concrete tarmac at the MwRSF Outdoor Test Site rather than on a simulated bridge deck and overhang. A narrow trench was cut down 2-in. into the existing concrete tarmac for which the 36- in. barrier system was anchored, thus providing a 34-in. barrier height relative to the tarmac to simulate the correct height of the rail relative to the bridge deck in the HDOT standard, which was consistent with the previously-tested rail [1]. A concrete fill was then applied to the trench surrounding the rail to simulate the 2-in. tall, finished grade. The handrail, which consisted of welded rail assemblies with posts and base plates, were installed on the back side of the parapet using four, post-installed epoxied threaded rods and nuts. The handrail segments contained builtup, welded splice tubes which were inserted into the ends of the rail to simulate expansion joints in the handrail

Test Level: 3

Barrier Type: Concrete Bridge Rail

MASH Test Number: 3-11, 3-10

Proprietary/Non-proprietary: Non-proprietary

Pass/Fail: Pass

Evaluation: Full-Scale Crash Testing

Sponsor: Hawaii Department of Transportation