Median barrier placement on six-lane, 46-foot median divided freeways

Details

• Creators:
  Fang, Howie ; Li, Ning ; Tian, Ning
• Corporate Creators:
  United States. Federal Highway Administration ; University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Department of Mechanical Engineering & Engineering Science
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Barriers (Roads) Cable Barrier Cables Divided Highways Finite Element Method Guardrails Highway Safety Median Barrier Median Barriers Roadside Safety Roadside Structures W-beam

  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/NC/2009-04
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  North Carolina
• Edition:
  Final Report; 08/2008 ¿ 11/2010
• Corporate Publisher:
  North Carolina. Department of Transportation. Research and Analysis Group
• Abstract:
  This report summarizes the research efforts of using finite element modeling and simulations to evaluate the
  
  performance of W-beam guardrails and cable median barriers on six-lane, 46-foot median divided freeways. A
  
  literature review is included on performance evaluation of W-beam guardrails and cable barriers as well as applications
  
  of finite element modeling and simulations in roadside safety research.
  
  The three types of barriers evaluated in this project are the single-face W-beam, double-face W-beam (two designs),
  
  and generic low-tension cable barrier. All three types of barriers were evaluated at three impact speeds and three impact
  
  angles. Full-scale crash simulations were first performed on a single-face W-beam guardrail placed on the border of a
  
  2.5:1 slope and the shoulder. Two designs of a double-face W-beam guardrail, which replaced the single-face W-beam
  
  at the same location, were then evaluated using simulations and compared to the single-face one. Finally, simulations
  
  were performed on vehicles impacting the cable median barrier placed on a 4:1 slope. The simulation results
  
  demonstrated the effects of sloped medians on vehicle redirection after contacting the cable median barriers or W-beam
  
  guardrails. A common issue for a sloped median is the increased potential of vehicle rollovers, particularly for largesize
  
  vehicles. The results will be used to update and validate the standard drawings and strategies for placement of
  
  median guardrails and cable barriers.
  
  The use of finite element simulations is shown to be both effective and efficient, because they are nondestructive,
  
  repeatable, modifiable, and inexpensive. Furthermore, finite element simulations can be used to study crash scenarios
  
  that are impossible and/or extremely expensive to conduct physical crash testing. Finite element modeling and
  
  simulations are recommended for future investigations of other research issues.
  
  
• Format:
  PDF
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:d3ba9eb0885e8fae485eecf6d072d3ae8566c73b884b7de2e624a2f61a51ffe8
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/18626/dot_18626_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 9.30 MB ]