Form ProjStat
(Rev. 5/2013)
(RTI)
Research Project Statement 16-360 (Deliverable Based)
FY 2016 Annual Program
Title:
Development of MASH Test Level 2 (TL-2) Short Radius Guardrail Treatment for Texas
Roadways
The Problem:
When a secondary road or driveway intersects a highway in close proximity to a bridge, it is difficult to fit the
proper guardrail length along the primary roadway to properly protect motorists from hazards underlying the
bridge. In such instances, the available right-of-way and constrained distance between the bridge and
secondary roadway or driveway can severely limit the application of effective safety treatments. One
solution is to apply a tight radius to the guardrail in order to turn it from the primary road to the secondary
road. A crashworthy solution for a short radius guardrail treatment has eluded the roadside safety research
community for two decades. Recently, an innovative short radius guardrail system was designed and
successfully crash tested in accordance with the AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH).
This system was developed for use on high-speed roadways standards, and will undoubtedly represent a
significant improvement in roadside safety; however, there are many sites that are even more restrictive
than the new short radius guardrail treatment can accommodate. A large percentage of these sites exist
along lower speed roadways. There is a need for a shorter, more economical short radius guardrail system
suitable for implementation on low speed roadways; i.e., less than 45 mph, which meets MASH TL-2 impact
performance guidelines.
Technical
Objectives:
This research will develop an economical short radius guardrail treatment for use on lower speed roadways
that can accommodate the restrictive conditions commonly found in Texas when a secondary roadway or
driveway intersects a primary roadway in close proximity to a bridge. The lower speeds should provide an
opportunity to decrease the length of the system along both the primary and secondary roadways, and
reduce the complexity and cost of the system compared to the successfully tested TL-3 design. As an
example, it should be possible to remove or reduce the number of frangible sand barrels located behind the
newly designed short radius guardrail system. It is expected the design and optimization of the short radius
system will be accomplished through the use of advanced computer simulation using nonlinear finite
element analyses. Full-scale vehicle crash tests will be required to verify the short radius system meets
MASH impact performance requirements for TL-2 impact conditions.
Desired
Deliverables:
1.
2.
3.
Value of Research (VoR) that includes both qualitative and economic benefits .
Design details and drawings of the successful MASH TL-2 short radius system that can be used to
develop a standard detail sheet.
Technical report and Project Summary Report detailing the work performed, findings, and
recommendations of this project.
Proposal
Requirements:
1. Utilize the deliverable based templates (see the appendices provided or in the University
Handbook)
2. Proposals will be considered non-responsive and will not be accepted for technical evaluation if
they are not received by the deadline or do not meet the requirements stated in RTI’s University
Handbook.
3. Proposals should be submitted in PDF format, 1 PDF file per proposal. File name should include
project name and university abbreviation.
Pre-Proposal
Meeting
Information:
Friday, September 11, 2015 9:00 – 12:00
Austin Riverside Campus
118 E. Riverside Dr.
ENV Conference Room, 1st Floor, 1B1A
Webex Information:
Join the online meeting:
Project Statement 16-360
Form ProjStat
(Rev. 5/2013)
(RTI)
Go to:
Join WebEx meeting
Meeting number: 737 294 354
Meeting password: 1234
Teleconference information;
Provide your phone number when you join the meeting to receive a call back. Alternatively, you can
call:
Call-in toll-free number: 1-866-6371408 (US)
Conference Code: 199 125 9183
Proposal
Deadline:
Proposals are due to RTI by 4:00 p.m. Central Time, October 12, 2015. Email submissions should be
sent to rtimain@txdot.gov.
Project Statement 16-360