Performance Evaluation of the Midwest Guardrail System - Update to NCHRP 350 Test No. 3-11 with 28
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ABSTRACT
Based on the proposed changes to the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report No. 350 guidelines, NCHRP Project 22-14(2) researchers deemed it appropriate to evaluate a strong-post W-beam guardrail systems prior to finalizing the new crash testing procedures and guidelines. For this effort, the Midwest Guardrail System (MGS) was selected for evaluation. One full-scale vehicle crash test was performed on the longitudinal barrier system in accordance with the Test Level 3 (TL-3) requirements presented in the Update to NCHRP Report No. 350. For this test, a 2270P pickup truck vehicle, which was a 1/2-ton, four-door vehicle with a 711 mm (28 in.) c.g. height, was used. The MGS system, mounted at the metric top rail height of 787 mm (31.0 in.), provided an acceptable safety performance when impacted by the 1/2-ton, four-door pickup truck, thus meeting the proposed TL-3 requirements presented in the Update to NCHRP Report No. 350.
KEYWORDS
Highway Safety, Roadside Appurtenances, Longitudinal Barriers, Guardrail, Crash Test, Compliance Test, NCHRP 350 Update