Citation

Stolle CJ, Zhu L, Lechtenberg KA, Bielenberg RW, Faller RK, Reid JD, Sicking DL, Rohde JR. Accid. Reconstr. J. 2012; 22(2): 35-38.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Accident Reconstruction Journal)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper, part IV of a multi-part series, reports on a study to evaluate the safety performance of the New York State Department of Transportation box beam Type II and Type IIA guide rail end terminals. A literature review on previous crash testing of relevant box beam guide rails, box beam median barriers and box beam end terminals first was undertaken, with emphasis on research and development efforts involving Type II and Type IIA end terminals. Next, a series of nine full-scale vehicle crash tests was performed on both types of end terminal systems. The tests were conducted according to AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) criteria with either a passenger car or a pickup truck. The test results were analyzed, evaluated and documented. The results showed that the Type II box beam end terminal system did not contain nor redirect the test vehicle. Significant deformations of, or intrusions into, the occupant compartment also occurred. These findings indicate that the Type II end terminal is unacceptable according to modified test designation no. 3-32 of the TL-3 safety performance criteria found in MASH.