Overview
The AASHTO-FHWA Joint Agreement for the Implementation of the 2016 Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) requires that any roadside safety hardware (guide rail, bridge rail, transitions, attenuators, etc.) to be installed on the National Highway System must be MASH-compliant.
Research Objectives
To determine if current railing and barrier designs are MASH-compliant and if not, provide recommendations for modifications backed by finite element analysis results.
NYSDOT is seeking to perform finite element modeling (FEM) and full-scale crash testing on NYSDOT bridge railing and barrier designs. The following key elements are necessary:
- Prepare detailed drawings for the test articles (railing or barrier);
- Create finite element models for the test articles and MASH vehicles required for the analysis;
- Perform finite element analysis (FEA) of test articles;
- Construct test articles for full-scale crash testing;
- Conduct full-scale crash testing using a licensed test facility in New York State; and
- Evaluate FEA and crash test results – Prepare report of findings with recommendations for any failed tests.
Related Media
Personnel
Anil Agrawal
Professor, City College of New York
Anil Agrawal is a Co-Principal Investigator on this project.
Frank DarConte
Research Professor, NYU
Frank DarConte is the Project Manager on this project.
Calspan Corporation
Aerospace and Transportation testing and research
Calspan Corporation is a Partner on this project.
RoadSafe LLC
Transportation Engineering and Research
RoadSafe LLC is a Partner on this project.