Development of MASH Computer Simulated Steel Bridge Rail and Transition Details

AASHTO and FHWA have entered a joint implementation agreement to adopt the AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) criteria for use of roadside safety devices. Per the agreement on December 31, 2019 the DOT’s will specify bridge rail that meets MASH on the National Highway System. Some, if not all, of the New England state DOT’s are specifying steel bridge rail that was tested and evaluated by the New England Transportation Consortium under the current NCHRP 350 protocol. This non-proprietary “New England steel bridge rail” includes details for 2-bar, 3-bar, 4-bar and transitions to guardrail. Steel bridge rail is often used as an alternative to concrete barrier type rail depending on the location and site specific requirements of the bridge. Although there are some NCHRP and pooled fund initiatives to evaluate bridge rail under the MASH criteria it is unknown if these initiatives will include this particular rail. The NCHRP 20-07/Task 395 has concluded it does not meet MASH criteria, based on an initial review of the NETC rail details. This is no surprise and it is logical to conclude that at a minimum some detail adjustments with computer simulations are needed. With the deadline for bridge rail MASH only two years away, the New England state DOT’s need their steel bridge rail and transitions evaluated. The objective of this project is to develop details for MASH compliance using computer simulations of the New England steel bridge rail configurations including transitions.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Project is managed by the New England Transportation Consortium

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Sponsor Organizations:

  New England Transportation Consortium

  16 State House Station
  Augusta, ME  United States  04333
• Managing Organizations:

  Maine Department of Transportation

  16 Statehouse Station
  Augusta, ME  United States  04333
• Project Managers:

  Peabody, Dale

• Performing Organizations:

  Roadsafe LLC

  ,    
• Start Date: 20180903
• Expected Completion Date: 20200601
• Actual Completion Date: 20200529

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge railings; Compliance; Evaluation and assessment; Simulation; Specifications; State departments of transportation; Steel bridges; Transition elements
• Identifier Terms: AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware
• Geographic Terms: New England
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; Materials; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01716026
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Maine Department of Transportation
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 13 2019 8:54AM