MPC Research Reports
Report Details

Title:	Simplified Impact Testing of Traffic Barrier Systems, Phase 1
Authors:	Richard Gutkowski and Derek Winkler
University:	Colorado State University
Publication Date:	Jun 2003
Report #:	MPC-03-143
Project #:	MPC-234
TRID #:	00964106
Keywords:	barriers (roads), highway safety, impact tests, performance, plastics, portable equipment, structural tests, test vehicles

Abstract

A variety of portable safety and security barriers for directing traffic (public events, sports facilities, etc.), and securing private and public locations against access (court houses, schools, etc.) have been developed. Some higher capacity systems have been developed for use on and around high speed automobile racing tracks. Generally, the barriers are hollow, plastic composite walls and use dead weight fill (sand, water) to resist impact without interconnection to the ground. Heavier solid systems, such as a concrete Jersey Wall type configuration, are used in highway construction as well. These are much more expensive and require heavy equipment to relocate them. Few of the filled, lightweight systems have been crash tested to meet federal standards, although some users have conducted their own impact tests. Typically, manufacturers are small businesses without the resources to conduct federal tests similar to crash tests of bridge guard rails. Thus, developing a comparable impact test method to conduct dependable preliminary tests has great merit.

Related Reports

• [Final Report] Impact Performance Testing of Roadway Safety and Security Barriers, Phase 2