Development of Two Test Level 2 Bridge Railings and Transitions for Use on Transverse Glue-Laminated Deck Bridges

Abstract

The Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory and FHWA, designed two bridge railing and approach guardrail transition systems for use on transverse glue-laminated timber deck bridges. The bridge railing and transition systems were developed and crash tested for use on medium-service roadways and evaluated according to the Test Level 2 safety performance criteria provided in NCHRP Report 350. The first railing system was constructed by using steel hardware, whereas the second railing system was built by using glulam timber components. Four full-scale crash tests were performed, and the bridge railing and transition systems were determined to be acceptable according to the current safety standards in NCHRP Report 350.

Transition of Temporary Concrete Barrier

“…It should be noted that 10-gauge thrie beam can be substituted for the nested 12-gauge in actual installations if desired. The substitution of 10-gauge thrie beam in lieu of nesting is allowable based on the previous design and crash testing of approach guardrail transitions that utilized 10-gauge thrie beam (Faller et al, 2000(Faller et al, , 2001. The thrie beam was bolted to the barriers using five 19-mm diameter × 152-mm long, Power Fasteners Wedge-Bolt Anchors at each end of the beam.…”