Procedures for Development of MASH Full-Scale Test Matrices for Additional Roadside Safety Devices

The AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) has developed test matrices for various roadside safety hardware (RSH) using an approach of “worst practical conditions.” This approach is based on selecting the worst or most critical conditions when defining a test matrix, wherein the tests evaluate different vehicle types, impact conditions, and failure types. A matrix also needs to allow multiple design alternatives for a given RSH. Finally, test matrices must be practical such that the RSH successfully evaluated are cost effective and provide increased safety benefits without burdening end users like state departments of transportation (DOTs) financially.    While MASH has matrices for most RSH, several devices lack a test matrix. There are currently no formal procedures to develop or evaluate a new test matrix. This lack of procedures makes it difficult for state DOTs to balance safety, cost, and practicality. Procedures to create new matrices could improve the effectiveness of RSH, increase efficiency in developing and maintaining test matrices, and provide a consistent and sound RSH evaluation process.  The objectives of this research are to develop procedures to:  (1) Determine whether an existing MASH test matrix applies to a given RSH; and (2) Develop test matrices for RSH that are not adequately addressed by existing MASH matrices.  

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5356

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $500000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 22-57

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Turner, Anne-Marie

• Performing Organizations:

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135
• Principal Investigators:

  Abu-Odeh, Akram

• Start Date: 20240415
• Expected Completion Date: 20270414
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Barriers (Roads); Crash tests; Evaluation; Highway safety; Roadside; Test procedures
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01846754
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 22-57
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 24 2022 1:13PM