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Development and Testing of a New Vertical-Faced Temporary Concrete Barrier for use on Composite Panel Bridge Decks

REPORT NUMBER

TRP-03-220-09

AUTHORS

Jennifer Rasmussen (Schmidt), Ronald Faller, Karla Lechtenberg (Polivka), Dean Sicking, John Reid

PUBLICATION DATE

2009-10-13

ABSTRACT

Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composite materials have become more readily used in bridge decks. However, no acceptable bridge railing systems have been developed for use on these composite panel bridges. The Kansas Department of Transportation sponsored the development and testing of a precast, vertical-faced, concrete barrier system for attachment to a composite panel bridge deck. The barrier segments were fastened to the deck panels using eight 1-in. (25-mm) diameter Grade 5 anchor rods and nuts. An 18-in. long x 8-in. wide x 1/2-in. thick (457-mm x 203-mm x 13-mm) ASTM A36 steel plate washer was located at the bottom of the deck at each set of two anchor bolt positions. One full-scale vehicle crash test was performed on the bridge railing system using a 1/2-ton, Quad Cab pickup truck at an impact speed of 61.1 mph (98.4 km/h) and an impact angle of 25.9 degrees. The test was conducted and reported in accordance with the Test Level 3 (TL-3) requirements specified in the Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). The vertical-faced, temporary concrete barrier system attached to an FRP composite bridge deck met to the TL-3 evaluation criteria specified in MASH.

KEYWORDS

Roadside Safety, Crash Test, Compliance Test, Longitudinal Barrier, Concrete Barrier, Composite Bridge Deck, FRP, Roadside Appurtenances, MASH, Vertical Barrier