Recommendations for placement of cable median barriers on 6:1 and 4:1 sloped medians with horizontal curvatures.

Details

• Creators:
  Fang, Howie ; Li, Ning ; DiSogra, Matthew ; Gutowski, Matthew ; Weggel, David C.
• Corporate Creators:
  University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Department of Mechanical Engineering & Engineering Science ; University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  • Finite element method
  • Median barriers
  • Freeways
  • Simulation
  • Impact tests
  • Horizontal supports
  • Highway safety
  • Slopes
  • Roads--Guard fences
  • Express highways
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• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/NC/2011-09
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  North Carolina
• Edition:
  Final report.
• Corporate Publisher:
  North Carolina. Dept. of Transportation
• Abstract:
  This report summarizes the research efforts of using finite element modeling and simulations to evaluate the performance of generic lowtension ; cable median barriers (CMBs) on four-lane and six-lane freeways with a 46-foot median, horizontal curvature, and 6:1 and 4:1 ; median slopes. A literature review is included on the performance evaluation of CMBs and applications of finite element modeling and ; simulations in roadside safety research. The modeling and simulation work is presented on a CMB with vehicular impacts of a 1996 ; Dodge Neon and a 2006 Ford F250 at 62.1 mph (100 km/hr). The placement of CMB at 4, 6, and 8 ft (1.22, 1.83, and 2.44 m) from the ; median centerline was evaluated under vehicular impacts at three departure angles (20 , 25, and 30). ; The simulation results show that the current NCDOT CMB meets the Test Level 3 (TL-3) requirements of MASH when placed at 4 ft ; (1.22 m) from the median centerline on the 6:1 slope of a four-lane freeway. The backside impacts to the CMB placed at 8 ft (2.44 m) ; from the median centerline on the 6:1 slope of a four-lane freeway only partially engages the vehicle, which allows the vehicle to enter ; the opposing travel lane before being redirected or stopped. ; Compared to the CMB on a four-lane freeway, the CMB placement at 8 ft (2.44 m) from the median centerline on a six-lane freeway has ; reduced performance in both the front-side and backside impacts by the Ford F250 for TL-3 requirements of MASH. For the tested ; impacts with a Dodge Neon, the CMB on the 6:1 slope of the six-lane freeway has similar performance to that of a four-lane freeway on ; the 6:1 slope. ; Based on the simulation results, placing the CMB at 6 ft (1.83 m) from the median centerline on a 4:1 slope of a six-lane freeway is not ; recommended. ; The use of finite element simulations in this project is shown to be both effective and efficient and thus recommended for future ; investigations of other research topics.
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• Format:
  PDF
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/25716/dot_25716_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 5.53 MB]
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:24fa02c7f4694fba09ac626ce7af1ea0913634d920f2b5188fa3811648126726f487818181173b4b3f8dbf93c9c3be73a65aa3b3884bb0b7706b5b6f4730613b