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Two test level 4 bridge railing and transition systems for transverse timber deck bridges

Informally Refereed

Abstract

The Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, in cooperation with the Forest Products Laboratory, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agricultureas Forest Service, and FHWA, designed two bridge railing and approach guardrail transition systems for use on bridges with transverse glue-laminated timber decks. The bridge raging and transition systems were developed and crash tested for use on higher-service-level roadways and evaluated according to the Test Level 4 safety performance criteria presented in NCHRP Report 350: Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features. The first railing system was constructed with glulam timber components, whereas the second railing system was configured with steel hardware. Eight full-scale crash tests were performed, and the bridge railing and transition systems were acceptable according to current safety standards.

Keywords

Bridges, Structural timbers, Highways, Road transport, Laminated wood, Structural design, Performance testing, Safety testing

Citation

Faller, Ronald K.; Ritter, Michael A.; Rosson, Barry T.; Fowler, Michael D.; Duwadi, Sheila R. 2000. Two test level 4 bridge railing and transition systems for transverse timber deck bridges. Fifth International Bridge Engineering Conference. Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 2000. Transportation research record ; 1696.:p. 334-351 : ill.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/5727