[Failed] – MASH CRASH TESTING AND EVALUATION OF THE MGS WITH REDUCED POST SPACING (Half Post Spacing)

Report Number(s): 610211-01

Description: The 181 ft-3-inch-long test installation was comprised of a 31-inch high, 12-gauge, 4‑space, W‑beam guardrail system. The W-beam rail was supported by 72-inch wide-flange posts with 14-inch-tall wood blockouts. TxDOT DATs terminated each end of the guardrail system. Beginning with the upstream DAT, there were three distinct sections of the installation:

1. a 37 ft-6-inch-long section (posts 3 through 9) with full post spacing at 75 inches.
2. a 75 ft-0-inch-long section (posts 9 through 33) with half post spacing at 37½-inches; and
3. a 43 ft-9-inch-long section (posts 33 through 40) with full post spacing at 75 inches.

A 10-inch button-head guardrail bolt secured each blockout to a post except where a post was located at a rail splice. In the full-post spacing sections, the W-beam rails were spliced at midspan between the posts. The wide-flange posts were embedded 40 inches deep in drilled holes that were backfilled with crushed limestone base and compacted to meet MASH strength requirements.

Test Level: 3

MASH Test Number: 3-11

Proprietary/Non-proprietary: Non-proprietary

Pass/Fail: Fail

Evaluation: Full-Scale Crash Testing

Sponsor: Roadside Safety Pooled Fund