1. “You Could Learn a Lot About Guardrail From a Dummy…
“You Could Learn a Lot About Guardrail From a Dummy…..(and his crash tests)”
Guardrail Basics for Design and Construction Scott Keller MDT Conference January 2007

2. Why Guardrail?
‘The main purpose of guardrail is to reduce the potential for, and severity of accidents involving vehicles that leave the road’

4. Guardrail Saves Lives Just ask this guy!

5. Statistics Approximately 42,000 fatalities on U.S. highways annually
Nearly 12,000 of these occur as a result of run-off-the-road
(R.O.R.) accidents
Approximately 1,200 of the R.O.R. fatalities are caused by
guardrail as the first harmful event

6. A guardrail installation is a hazard when...
Is Guardrail A Hazard?
A guardrail installation is a hazard when...

7. Blunt End - Flared Terminal

8. Disastrous Results with BCT

9. Modified Eccentric Loader Terminal (M.E.L.T)

10. Turndown Approach Terminal

11. Blunt End - Bridge Transition

12. Guardrail Is Often A Hazard
Since Guardrail itself is a hazard, it should be used only as a last option. Before using guardrail:
Remove the hazard completely (Trees, Large Rocks, etc.)
Eliminate the hazard (fill depressions, holes, etc.)
Then, and only then:
Protect the hazard with barrier
Use the minimum amount of barrier required to protect hazard
Protect the barrier end with an approved end terminal

13. AASHTO Roadside Design Guide

14. < Length of Need (LON) >
Example of simple barrier installation guideline

15. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Policy requires the following roadside safety features used on the National Highway System to meet the performance criteria of NCHRP Report 350
Traffic Barriers
Barrier Terminals
Crash Cushions
Bridge Railings
Light Pole Supports
Sign Post Supports
Work Zone Hardware

16. What is the NCHRP Report 350?

17. What is the NCHRP Report 350?
NCHRP Report 350 is the research report adopted by FHWA as the standard for determining safe and acceptable performance of roadside features for use on the National Highway System.

18. What types of longitudinal guardrail, guardrail end terminal and crash cushion installations are NCHRP 350 approved?

19. Longitudinal Barriers

20. NCHRP Report 350 Test Levels For Longitudinal Barriers

21. NCHRP 350 Approved and Non-Approved Guardrail
(Concrete Barrier Rail not shown)

22. Guardrail on Steel Post with Steel Block

23. Guardrail on Wood Post and Wood Block

24. Guardrail on Steel Post with Wood Block

25. Guardrail on Steel Post with Plastic Block

26. W-Beam Grading Requirements:
Provide 10:1 or flatter slopes in front of rail and terminal sections.
Provide two feet (600 mm) of soil behind the posts to develop adequate soil resistance.
Use new 7 foot (2.1 M) posts with half-post spacing design in areas that you cannot provide two feet (600 mm) of widening. (See Dtl. Drwg. No A and B)

27. Plant Mix Overlays and W-Beam Guardrail
Three inch (75 mm) tolerance on height of rail
Replace rail when the overlay exceeds 0.25 feet or 75 mm in thickness

28. Guardrail End Terminals

29. 1994 FHWA Memorandum Dean Carlson, Executive Director
“…some obsolete roadside hardware or poor practices thought to have
been upgraded or eliminated …still remain on the Nation’s main
roadway systems”
“...FHWA has a responsibility to identify hardware designs and
practices that are no longer acceptable for specific conditions”
“…the following nationwide traffic barrier upgrading issues, most of
which involve terminals, are identified as needing attention:
Replacement of Blunt End Terminal
Use of Turn-Down Terminals
Breakaway Cable Terminal (BCT)
Terminal Replacement

30. 1994 FHWA Memorandum Dean Carlson, Executive Director
Breakaway Cable Terminal (BCT)
The BCT does not pass 100 km/hour testing with the 820 kg car.
Use of BCT no longer accepted for installation after 1 year of
referenced memorandum on the approach end of high speed, high
volume roads on the NHS.
Existing BCT units should be replaced with crashworthy
terminals when units are damaged, or when significant roadway
work is done in the same area.

31. NCHRP 350 Guardrail Terminal Test Matrix

32. ET-Plus With Wood Posts

35. ET-2000 with HBA Posts

36. ET-PLUS and SKT 350 Advantages:
Softer Ridedown for smaller vehicles
Address Future Side-Impact Testing Criteria
Successfully Tested to NCHRP Report 350
Test Level 3 Criteria
Easier to install (New Heads are Lighter)

37. ET-Plus with HBA Posts

38. ET-Plus and SKT 350 Advantages:
NCHRP Report 350 Test Level 3 Approved
Wood Post or Steel Post Options
Tangent terminal reduces installation costs
Majority of parts are reusable after end on impact

39. Impact Attenuators

40. Crash Cushion Attenuator Test Matrix

41. Crash Cushion Attenuator Test Matrix

42. TRACC Advantages: NCHRP Report 350 Approved:
6.4 Meter Length Test Level 3 (100 km/hour)
Majority of parts are reusable after end-on impact
All-steel construction extends product life and
minimizes maintenance
Installed on Concrete or Asphalt

43. Newest Tracc Family Member - Widetracc TL-3

44. Quadguard Advantages:
NCHRP Report 350 Approved:
6 Bay Design Meets Test Level 3 (100 km/hour)
Majority of parts are reusable after end-on impact
Collapsible cartridges extend product life and
minimizes maintenance
Installed on Concrete or Asphalt

45. QUEST is the newest MDT approved Impact Attenuator
Very similar to TRACC in design and appearance
Majority of parts are reusable after end-on impact
All-steel construction extends product life and minimizes maintenance

46. Transitions/ Bridge Approach Sections

47. Concrete Bridge Transition Test

48. MDT Detailed Drawings
Guardrail – W-Beam, Box Beam, Cable, and Concrete Barrier Rail
Terminal Sections
Bridge Approach Sections
Impact Attenuators
Guardrail Hardware

49. Additional Information
Scott Keller, P.E.
MDT/MSU Design PO Box
Bozeman, MT
(406)