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ABSTRACT

The objective of this research was to develop and evaluate potential design modifications for the F-shaped portable concrete barrier (PCB) with a steel pin tie-down anchorage system for asphalt surfaces. Previous full-scale crash testing of the original asphalt pin tie-down anchorage according to Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) Test Level 3 (TL-3) test designation no. 3-11 criteria resulted in a failure due to wheel snag on the barrier joint that led to excess occupant compartment deformation. Potential design modifications were developed to mitigate wheel snag, and a preferred modification was selected for full-scale crash testing. The modified barrier system was full-scale crash tested and evaluated according to MASH TL-3 test designation no. 3-11 criteria. Test no. WITD-4 consisted of sixteen F-shape PCB segments installed with a pinned tie-down configuration placed on a 2-in. thick asphalt pad. The rear toe of the PCBs was installed 18 in. from the edge of a 36-in. wide x 36-in. deep trench. Barrier nos. 5 through 13 were anchored on the traffic side of the system with three 1½-in. diameter x 38½-in. long steel pins placed through the bolt anchor pockets on each barrier segment and driven through the asphalt and into the underlying soil. A 5,019-lb quad cab pickup truck impacted the anchored PCB system at a speed of 61.9 mph and at an angle of 25.0 degrees. During test no. WITD-4, all occupant compart deformations recorded were within MASH limits and test no. WITD-4 was deemed successful according to MASH TL-3 test designation no. 3-11 safety criteria. However, due to the 2270P vehicle’s left-front door snagging on a saddle cap, it was recommended that further evaluation of the system with MASH test designation no. 3-10 may be warranted.

KEYWORDS

Highway Safety, Crash Test, Roadside Appurtenances, Compliance Test, MASH, Test Level 3, Portable Concrete Barrier, Pinned Barrier, Asphalt Foundation

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