Development and Testing of a Non-Pinned Low-Profile End Treatment

014999632013Test Report September 2012\u2013June 2013PDFTech ReportFHWA/TX-13/9-1002-12-79-1002-12Barriers (Roads)DesignGuardrailsHeightImpact testsPinsHighwaysSafety and Human FactorsI82: Accidents and Transport InfrastructureTexasUnited StatesUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationBeason, W. L.Brackin, Michael S.Bligh, Roger P.Menges, Wanda L.Texas A&M Transportation InstituteTexas. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Technology Implementation OfficeUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionThe Low-Profile barrier was crash tested in the 1990s to assure that a previously developed Low-Profile barrier end treatment complied with Test Level 2 (TL-2) criteria for terminals and redirective crash cushions as presented in National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350. Together, the sloped end treatment and the low-profile barrier provide an innovative barrier system acceptable for use on most local and collector roads, and many work zones, depending upon applicable guidelines. The primary advantage of the low-profile barrier system is that the 20-inch height of the system is less than the traditional concrete barrier height of 32 inches. The reduced height provides enhanced driver visibility in highway work zones and other appropriate locations. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) deemed acceptable the complete Low-Profile barrier system, including the sloped end treatment, for use in situations consistent with NCHRP Report 350 TL-2 applications in 2009. The original Low-Profile end treatment was designed and tested under the assumption that it would be attached to the pavement or subgrade using vertical steel pins spaced at equal intervals along the centerline of the end treatment. The purpose of the steel pins was to control the lateral deflection of the end treatment during impact. While the steel pins do an excellent job of controlling the lateral deflection of the end treatment during impact, the introduction of holes into the pavement or subgrade may not be desirable in many applications. The purpose of this research is to determine if a non-pinned Low-Profile end treatment can comply with applicable crash test standards. The unpinned Low-Profile end treatment performed acceptably for Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) Tests 2-34 and 2-35.78