Attachment of Combination Rails to Concrete Parapets Utilizing Epoxy Adhesive Anchors
REPORT NUMBER
TRP-03-325-15
AUTHORS
Bob Bielenberg, John Reid, Scott Rosenbaugh, Austin Haase, Ronald Faller
PUBLICATION DATE
2015-11-03
ABSTRACT
The Iowa Department of Transportation (IaDOT) was interested in investigating the use of epoxy adhesive anchorages
for the attachment of posts used in the BR27C combination bridge rail system. Alternative anchorage concepts were
developed using a modified version of the ACI 318-11 procedures for embedded anchor design. Four design concepts were
developed for review by IaDOT, including: (1) a four-bolt square anchorage, (2) a four-bolt spread anchorage, (3) a two-bolt
centered anchorage, and (4) a two-bolt offset anchorage. IaDOT representatives selected the four-bolt spread anchorage
and the two-bolt offset anchorage as the preferred designs for evaluation. In addition to these two proposed configurations,
IaDOT also requested that the researchers evaluate a third option that had been previously installed on the US-20 bridge
near Hardin, IA.
The proposed alternative anchorages and the original cast-in-place anchorage for the BR27C combination bridge rail
were evaluated through dynamic component testing. The test of the original cast-in-place anchorage was used a baseline for
comparison with the alternative designs. Test no. IBP-1 of the original cast-in-place anchorage developed a peak load of
22.9 kips (101.9 kN) at a deflection of 1.5 in. (38 mm). All three of the tested alternative anchorages provided greater load
capacity than the original cast-in-place design and were deemed acceptable surrogates. Of the three alternative designs, the
two-bolt offset design was deemed the best option.
KEYWORDS
Highway Safety, Crash Test, Roadside Appurtenances,
Combination Bridge Rail, Dynamic Component Testing,
Epoxy Adhesive Anchorage