Cable Median Barrier Failure Analysis and Prevention
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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Final Reports & Technical Briefs from Mid- America Transportation Center Mid-America Transportation Center 2012 Cable Median Barrier Failure Analysis and Prevention Dean L. Sicking University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Cody S. Stolle University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/matcreports Part of the Civil Engineering Commons Sicking, Dean L. and Stolle, Cody S., "Cable Median Barrier Failure Analysis and Prevention" (2012). Final Reports & Technical Briefs from Mid-America Transportation Center. 45. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/matcreports/45 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Mid-America Transportation Center at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Final Reports & Technical Briefs from Mid-America Transportation Center by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Nebraska Transportation Center Report # TRP-03-275-12 Final Report 25-1121-0001-428 Cable Median Barrier Failure Analysis and Prevention Dean L. Sicking, Ph.D., P.E. Professor Department of Civil Engineering University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cody S. Stolle, Ph.D., E.I.T. Postdoctoral Research Associate 2012 NTC Nebraska Transportation Center 262 WHIT 2200 Vine Street Lincoln, NE 68583-0851 (402) 472-1975 “This report was funded in part through grant[s] from the Federal Highway Administration [and Federal Transit Administration], U.S. Department of Transportation. The views and opinions of the authors [or agency] expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the U. S. Department of Transportation.” MATC University Transportation Center Research Program Fiscal Years 2010-2012 CABLE MEDIAN BARRIER FAILURE ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION Submitted by Cody S. Stolle, Ph.D., E.I.T. Dean L. Sicking, Ph.D., P.E. Postdoctoral Research Associate Professor, Civil Engineering MIDWEST ROADSIDE SAFETY FACILITY Nebraska Transportation Center University of Nebraska-Lincoln 130 Whittier Research Center 2200 Vine Street Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0853 (402) 472-0965 Submitted to MIDWEST STATES REGIONAL POOLED FUND PROGRAM Nebraska Department of Roads 1500 Nebraska Highway 2 Lincoln, Nebraska 68502 MID-AMERICA TRANSPORTATION CENTER U.S. Department of Transportation, Region VII University Transportation Center University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2200 Vine Street, 262 Whittier Building Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0853 MwRSF Research Report No. TRP-03-275-12 December 17, 2012 TECHNICAL REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE 1. Report No. 2. 3. Recipient’s Accession No. TRP-03-275-12 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Cable Median Barrier Failure Analysis and Prevention December 17, 2012 6. 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Stolle, C.S. and Sicking, D.L. TRP-03-275-12; MATC WBS: 25-1121-0001-428 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Project/Task/Work Unit No. Midwest Roadside Safety Facility (MwRSF) Nebraska Transportation Center University of Nebraska-Lincoln 11. Contract © or Grant (G) No. 130 Whittier Research Center 2200 Vine Street Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0853 12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Midwest States Regional Pooled Fund Program Final Report: 2010 – 2012 Nebraska Department of Roads 1500 Nebraska Highway 2 Lincoln, Nebraska 68502 Mid-America Transportation Center U.S. Department of Transportation Region VII University Transportation Center 14. Sponsoring Agency Code University of Nebraska-Lincoln MATC TRB RiP No. 28495 2200 Vine Street 262 Whittier Building Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0853 15. Supplementary Notes 16. Abstract (Limit: 200 words) Cross-median crashes have been identified as one of the highest injury or fatality risk crash types. Although cross- median crashes account for only 2% to 5% of all median crash events, they are disproportionately represented in the number and frequency of fatalities on interstate roadways. Many states have utilized cable median barriers to reduce the risk of cross-median crashes, frequently with great success. However, cable median barriers are also fixed obstacles to errant vehicles. Cable median barriers can place occupants at increased risk of severe injury or fatality if the barrier fails to adequately contain and redirect errant vehicles, resulting in a vehicular penetration through the barrier or rollover. As total cable median barrier mileage continues to climb, there is an opportunity to prevent many penetration, rollover, and serious injury or fatality crashes by improving barrier design, installation guidelines, and crash-testing guidelines to more adequately address crash concerns with these barrier types. More than 6,000 cable median barrier crashes from 12 different states were analyzed to determine causes of barrier containment failures, and new crash test conditions which were reflective of these impact conditions were identified. Further crash testing and barrier redesign should reduce the frequency of barrier penetrations and rollovers. 17. Document Analysis/Descriptors 18. Availability Statement Highway Safety, Roadside Appurtenances, Cable No restrictions. Document available from: Barriers, Impact Conditions, In-Service Performance National Technical Information Services, Springfield, Virginia 22161 19. Security Class (this report) 20. Security Class (this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 216 i December 17, 2012 MwRSF Report No. TRP-03-275-12 DISCLAIMER STATEMENT This report was completed with funding from the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. The contents of this report reflect the views and opinions of the authors who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the state highway departments participating in the Midwest States Regional Pooled Fund Program nor the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, regulation, product endorsement, or an endorsement of manufacturers. ii December 17, 2012 MwRSF Report No. TRP-03-275-12 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors wish to acknowledge several sources that made a contribution to this project: (1) the Illinois Department of Transportation, Iowa Department of Transportation, Kentucky Department of Transportation, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Missouri Department of Transportation, North Carolina Department of Transportation, Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Department of Public Safety, Ohio Highway State Patrol, Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Oregon Department of Transportation, Texas Department of Transportation, Utah Department of Transportation, Washington Department of Transportation, Wisconsin Department of Transportation for providing crash data; and (2) MwRSF personnel for constructing the barriers and conducting the crash tests. Acknowledgement is also given to the following individuals who made a contribution to the completion of this research project. Midwest Roadside Safety Facility F.D.B. Albuquerque, Ph.D., Research Assistant Engineer J.D. Reid, Ph.D., Professor R.K. Faller, Ph.D., P.E., Research Assistant Professor K.A. Lechtenberg, M.S.M.E., E.I.T., Research Associate Engineer R.W. Bielenberg, M.S.M.E., E.I.T., Research Associate Engineer M. Mongiardini, Ph.D., Post-Doctoral Research Assistant Y. Shi, M.S.STAT, Undergraduate Assistant Illinois Department of Transportation David Piper, P.E., Safety Implementation Engineer Priscilla Tobias, State Safety Engineer Iowa Department of Transportation Chris Poole, P.E., Roadside Design Engineer Michael Pawlovich, Ph.D., P.E., Office of Traffic and Safety Kentucky Department of Transportation Nathan Dean, Traffic Records Coordinator iii December 17, 2012 MwRSF Report No. TRP-03-275-12 Minnesota Department of Transportation Michael Elle, P.E., Design Standard Engineer Missouri Department of Transportation Joseph G. Jones, P.E., Engineering Policy Administrator Jon Nelson, P.E., Traffic Management and Operations Engineer John P. Miller, P.E., Traffic Safety Engineer Darla Stumpe, P.E., Sr. Traffic Studies Specialist North Carolina Department of Transportation Shawn Troy, P.E., Safety Evaluation Engineer Brian G. Murphy, P.E., Traffic Safety Project Engineer Oklahoma Department of Transportation Matt Warren, E.I.T., Traffic Division Faria Emamian, P.E., Assistant Division Engineer Ohio Department of Transportation Michael Bline, P.E., Standards and Geometrics Engineer Jeffery Maute, Department of Public Records Ohio Department of Public Safety Sgt. John Thorne, Ohio State Highway Patrol Oregon Department of Transportation Dave Thompson, Public Information Section Manager Texas Department of Transportation Rory Meza, P.E., Director, Roadway Design Section Utah Department of Transportation W. Scott Jones, P.E., PTOE, Safety Programs Engineer Danielle Herrscher, P.E., Crash Studies Engineer Glenn Schulte, Transportation Safety Specialist Washington Department of Transportation Dave Olson, Design Policy, Standards, and Research Manager Brad Manchas, Design Research Analyst iv December 17, 2012 MwRSF Report No. TRP-03-275-12 Wisconsin Department of Transportation Jerry Zogg, P.E., Chief Roadway Standards Engineer John Bridwell, P.E., Standards Development Engineer Erik Emerson, P.E., Standards Development Engineer Sgt. Duane