@article{ref1,
title="Development of the Midwest Guardrail System for Standard and Reduced Post Spacing and in Combination with Curbs: Part 1",
journal="Accident reconstruction journal",
year="2008",
author="Polivka, Karla and Faller, Ronald and Sicking, Dean and Reid, John and Rohde, John and Holloway, James and Kuipers, Beau and Bielenberg, Bob",
volume="18",
number="2",
pages="49-61, 64",
abstract="Significant changes in the vehicle fleet over the past 10 years have led to changes in performance criteria for roadside safety hardware. In particular, replacement of the large sedan with a 3/4-ton pickup has caused reevaluation of much of the existing roadside safety hardware. One of the key questions in this reevaluation has been the performance of the W-beam guardrail. Several recent tests of W-beam guardrails have shown that successful capture and redirection of the 3/4-ton pickup vehicle is very sensitive to vehicle size, soil conditions, and post types. Unfortunately, these requirements do not appear to be satisfied by either standard W-beam rail systems nor the more costly 3-beam systems. In recognition of the potential for improving guardrail performance for high-center-of-gravity vehicles and the need to reestablish reasonable barrier height tolerances, the aims of this research project were to: examine the performance of W-beam guardrails and make necessary design changes; develop a guardrail-to-curb barrier combination that provides increased hydraulic capacity and placement farther in front of the rail face to reduce frequency of snow plow damage to guardrails; and 3) evaluate guardrail stiffening and determine appropriate guardrail placement guidelines for shielding rigid-hazards using full-, half-, and quarter-post spacing designs.<p />",
language="",
issn="1057-8153",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}