NCHRP Report 350 Test 3-10 on the Modified PennDOT Type 2 Guide Rail - Test 4
Author(s):
C.E. Buth, W.L. Menges, W.F. Williams, S.K. Stone
Publication Date:
August 2000
Abstract:
The purpose of this project was to perform full-scale crash tests on a modified PennDOT Type 2 guide rail in accordance with National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350 to evaluate performance of the guide rail at test level three (TL-3). The rail was constructed in accordance with PennDOT standard drawings with modifications specified by PennDOT.
For the first test performed under this contract (11/23/99), the W-beam rail elements were attached to the posts with 6 mm (0.25 in) diameter bolts threaded full length with a 6 mm round flat washer, two 44 mm square plate washers with 10 mm diameter hole used under the head, a 6 mm round flat washer, and two nuts. Rail splices were located mid-span between posts. To support the W -beam, 14 mm (0.5 in) diameter by 40 mm (1.5 in) long shelf bolts were placed in the flange of the post just below the W -beam, with two nuts on the traffic face of the post. During the first test, the rail element ruptured and the 2000P pickup truck penetrated the installation.
For the installation used in the second test (1/6/00), the shelf bolts were eliminated on all but the last post near each end (the first post of the turned down). Back-up plates were added and the mounting bolt length was increased. The PennDOT Type 2 guide rail initially contained and redirected the 2000P pickup truck; however, as the vehicle continued along the guide rail, the rail dropped and allowed the vehicle to override the installation.
For the installation used in the third (5/9/00) and fourth (6/22/00) crash tests, the installation was constructed similar to Test 2 with the following exceptions. The height of the rail was elevated to 820 mm (32.3 in) and 8 mm (0.3 in) diameter bolts threaded the full length with an 8 mm (0.3 in) round flat washer was used instead of the 6 mm (0.25 in) diameter bolts used in Test 2. In addition, 14 mm (0.55 in) diameter by 40 mm (l.5 in) long shelf bolts were placed in the flange of each post to support the W -beam rail. The PennDOT Type 2 guide rail contained and redirected the 2000P pickup truck (of test 3) and the 820C passenger car (test reported herein). Details of the installation and results of the fourth full-scale crash test are presented herein.
Report Number:
473750-4
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