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Increased Span Length For The Mgs Long-Span Guardrail System Part Iii: Failure Analysis, Sagheer A. Ranjha, Robert W. Bielenberg, John D. Reid, Ronald K. Faller

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

The objective of this research study was to review and analyze the system failure observed during crash testing of an increased span length for the MGS long-span guardrail system in test no. MGSLS-2. Test no. MGSLS-2 was a full-scale crash test conducted on the MGS long-span guardrail with a span length of 311⁄4 ft (9.5 m). This test utilized universal breakaway steel posts (UBSPs) adjacent to the long span in lieu of the controlled release terminal (CRT) wood posts used in previous long span systems.

An engineering analysis was undertaken to review the downstream end anchorage failure observed in test …

Length Of Need And Minimum System Length For F-Shape Portable Concrete Barrier, Robert W. Bielenberg, Dylan T. Meyer, Ronald K. Faller, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Portable concrete barrier (PCB) systems are often used to redirect errant vehicles through a combination of inertial resistance, lateral friction loads, and tensile loads developed from the mass and friction of the barrier segments. State departments of transportation (DOTs) and other end users may wish to utilize minimal length PCB installations to shield a hazard or work zone or limit the number of barriers required on the upstream and downstream ends to reduce overall system length. However, concerns with the performance of shorter PCB installations include increased lateral deflections and working widths and barrier pocketing. Additionally, no impact testing has …

Testing And Evaluation Of Mash Tl-3 Transition Between Guardrail And Portable Concrete Barriers, Robert W. Bielenberg, Jessica L. Lingenfelter, Justine E. Kohtz, Ronald K. Faller, John D. Reid

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Three full-scale vehicle crash tests were conducted according to the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) Test Level 3 (TL-3) safety performance criteria on a transition between the Midwest Guardrail System (MGS) and a portable concrete barrier (PCB) system. The transition system utilized for test nos. MGSPCB-1 through MGSPCB-3 consisted of a standard MGS that overlapped a series of F- shape PCB segments that approached the MGS at a 15H:1V flare. In the overlapped portion of the barrier systems, uniquely-designed blockout holders and a specialized W-beam end shoe mounting bracket were used to connect the systems.

In test no. MGSPCB-1, …

Increased Span Length For The Mgs Long-Span Guardrail System Part Ii: Full-Scale Crash Testing, Dylan T. Meyer, John D. Reid, Karla A. Lechtenberg, Robert W. Bielenberg, Ronald K. Faller

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

The objective of this research study was to design and evaluate the MGS long-span design for use with unsupported spans greater than 25 ft (7.6 m). Two full-scale crash tests were conducted to evaluate the MGS long-span system with increased span lengths and the use of UBSP posts adjacent to the long span. Both tests were conducted according to the TL- 3 criteria outlined in MASH. Both test nos. MGSLS-1 and MGSLS-2 were conducted with the 2270P vehicle impacting their respective critical impact points at a speed of 62 mph (100 km/h) and an angle of 25 degrees. Test no. …