| TTI Research Supervisor: James Kovar Assistant Research Scientist Texas A&M Transportation Institute TAMU 3135 College Station, Texas 77843-3135 (979) 317-2680 [email protected] | Pooled Fund Technical Representative: Brian S. Crossley Acting Chief, TSMO Operations and Performance Section Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Highway Safety & Traffic Operations Division 400 North Street Harrisburg, PA 17120-0064 (717) 265-7562 [email protected] |
The Roadside Safety Pooled Fund has prioritized their research needs for various hardware
systems, including a temporary sign support which is visible above channelizing devices. Work
zones often employ channelizing devices to funnel traffic, but these channelizers often obscure the
drivers’ view of signage and other directional indicators. Figure 1 shows one such case where low
signs are nearly completely obscured from the driver’s perspective. Therefore, there is a need to
increase the height of these temporary signs to place them above the channelizing devices.
However, a higher mounting height poses crashworthiness concerns. Consequently, the Roadside
Safety Pooled Fund has prioritized evaluating this system through full-scale crash testing.
The primary objective of this study is to develop a sign stand for rigid sign substrates which can
be placed within channelizing devices at a mounting height of 5 feet or greater (7 feet is preferred).
Sign sizes will range from 2 feet x 2 feet to 4 feet x 4 feet. This effort will use analytical analyses
and full-scale dynamic testing to evaluate the system’s crashworthiness.
This project will benefit the members of the Roadside Safety Pooled Fund by providing temporary
sign support which could be used behind channelizing devices within a work zone. Successful
MASH evaluation of a temporary sign stand will improve safety in work zones. Installing signs at
a taller height among channelizing devices will allow visibility of signs with adequate time for
decision making.
The TTI research team will develop a temporary sign stand which is visible among channelizing
devices. This will be accomplished through analytical analyses and full-scale crash testing. The TTI research team will prepare and submit a research report fully documenting the project effort.
This report will be submitted to the technical representatives of the Roadside Safety Pooled Fund
for review and approval.
The proposed work plan consists of four tasks as described below.
Task 1: Literature Review
The objective for Task 1 is to review previous literature and testing related to temporary sign
supports. The TTI research team will complete the literature review through various means,
including use of internet search engines, and databases like the Roadside Safety Pooled Fund
MASH database and the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility library of research projects. Figure 2
shows examples of temporary sign supports which have characteristics desirable for the
application investigated under this research project. This reviewed information will lay the
foundation for the analyses and design efforts in Task 2.
The objective for Task 2 is to analyze and develop a temporary sign support which may be used
among channelizing devices within a work zone. This analysis will review previous testing to
determine the critical design elements which will benefit the crashworthiness of the system. This
analysis may incorporate analytical approaches to predict post-impact trajectories of hardware
components. The TTI research team will then develop a design which will be fully evaluated
through full-scale crash testing in Task 3.
Task 3: System Construction & Full-Scale Crash Testing
The objective for Task 3 is to complete full-scale crash testing evaluating the crashworthiness of
the system developed in Task 2. These tests will be run under conditions set forth in MASH tests
3-71 and 3-72. MASH Test 3-70 is currently viewed as non-critical as the intention of the final
design will be a lightweight structure, which precludes the need for MASH test 3-70. These tests
will be completed in either the 0°, 90°, or both impact angles.
Task 3 also includes the reporting and documentation of the project’s effort. The TTI research
team will prepare and submit a research report fully documenting the project effort. This report
will be submitted to the technical representatives of the Roadside Safety Pooled Fund for review
and approval.
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