Abstract: A guardrail beam for installation along a roadway includes a first edge and a second edge. A plurality of crowns may be disposed longitudinally along the guardrail beam between the first edge and the second edge. A first fold may be disposed upon the first edge and a second fold may be disposed upon the second edge. The beam may also include an upstream end, a downstream end and an intermediate portion disposed between the upstream and downstream ends. The first and second folds may form generally tubular first and second curls having elliptical cross sections and located within the upstream and intermediate portions. The guardrail beam may also include hemmed portions at the first edge and/or second edge at the downstream ends of the guardrail beam. In a particular embodiment, one or more fluted beads may be disposed longitudinally along at least one crown.

Abstract: A guardrail beam for installation along a roadway includes a top edge and a bottom edge. A plurality of crowns may be disposed longitudinally along the guardrail beam between the top edge and the bottom edge. A first fold may be disposed upon the top edge and a second fold may be disposed upon the bottom edge. In a particular embodiment, one or more fluted beads may be disposed longitudinally along at least one crown. The guardrail beam may also include hemmed portions at the top edge and/or bottom edge at the downstream ends of the guardrail beam.

Abstract: An end terminal assembly of a highway guardrail system to enhance safety of a vehicle impacting an end of the guardrail facing oncoming traffic. The guardrail system includes a W-beam type guardrail mounted on a plurality of posts adjacent to the side of a highway. The guardrail includes at least one W-shaped beam having a first edge curl and a second edge curls. A kinetic energy absorbing assembly is integrally engaged with the one end of guardrail to stretch portions of at least one W-shaped beam to dissipate energy from an impacting vehicle. An anchor assembly may be provided as part of the end terminal assembly to provide tension support as desired for the guardrail during rail face impacts and a cable anchor bracket which releases from the guardrail during a head on impact with the end of the guardrail.

Abstract: A guardrail beam for installation along a roadway is provided with a first or top edge region and a second or bottom edge region. A plurality of crowns may be disposed longitudinally along the guardrail beam between the first, top edge region and the second, bottom edge region. Each edge region preferably includes a first, edge flange and a second, slot flange with a plurality of splice bolt slots disposed therein. A radius between less than three-eighths of an inch and approximately one-sixteenth of an inch is preferably formed between each first, edge flange and adjacent second, slot flange. Also, each first, edge flange preferably extends at an angle between approximately twenty-five degrees and one hundred twenty-five degrees relative to the second, slot flange.

Abstract: An end terminal assembly of a highway guardrail system to enhance safety of a vehicle impacting an end of the guardrail facing oncoming traffic. The guardrail system includes a W-beam type guardrail mounted on a plurality of posts adjacent to the side of a highway. The guardrail includes at least one W-shaped beam having a first edge curl and a second edge curls. A kinetic energy absorbing assembly is integrally engaged with the one end of guardrail to stretch portions of at least one W-shaped beam to dissipate energy from an impacting vehicle. An anchor assembly may be provided as part of the end terminal assembly to provide tension support as desired for the guardrail during rail face impacts and a cable anchor bracket which releases from the guardrail during a head on impact with the end of the guardrail.