Abstract: In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, an end treatment of a guardrail safety system includes a terminal portion of a guardrail beam that has a downstream end and an upstream end. The terminal portion of the guardrail beam slopes from a first vertical height appropriate for redirecting an errant vehicle to a second vertical height proximate the surface of the ground at an upstream end of the terminal portion of the guardrail beam. A flattening portion forms a channel through which the terminal portion of the guardrail beam is disposed. A vertical dimension of the channel is greater at a downstream end of the flattening portion than at an upstream end of the flattening portion. An impact plate is connected to the flattening portion for engaging an impacting vehicle at an end of said guardrail beam. During an end-on impact, the impact plate and the flattening portion are advanced longitudinally along the guardrail in a downstream direction by the vehicle.

Abstract: An energy absorbing terminal is described that is made up of a plurality of cells partially defined by cambered panels made of thermoplastic or another suitable material. The panels are supported upon rectangular frames. The cambered portion of the panels provides a predetermined point of flexure for each panel and, thus, allows for energy dissipation during a collision. The stiffness of the crash cushion may be varied by altering material thicknesses and diaphragm spacing. In operation, a vehicle colliding in an end-on manner with the upstream end of the energy absorbing terminal will cause each of the cambered panels to bend angularly at its point of flexure and, thus, cause the cells to collapse axially. The use of thermoplastic, such as polyethylene results in a reversible, self-restoring collapse for the terminal, meaning that the terminal is reusable after most collisions.

Abstract: A cable guardrail release system includes a firsts number of anchor posts installed adjacent a roadway. Each of the first number of anchor posts secures an end of a respective cable. Each anchor post is operable to release the respective cable secured by the anchor post upon a vehicle impact to the anchor post. The system may include a length of need section that includes a plurality of intermediate support posts each configured to support each of the respective cables. The length of need section may include portions of each of the respective cables running in between the plurality of intermediate support posts. Each anchor post may be configured to resist release of the respective cable secured by the anchor post upon a vehicle impact to the length of need section generally at an angle to the flow of traffic on the roadway.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a cable anchor system for an end terminal includes a cable anchor bracket configured to couple to a guardrail, in which the cable anchor bracket includes a flat plate having an aperture formed therein and a plurality of protrusions extending from a plane containing the aperture. The protrusions are configured to releasably engage the guardrail.

Abstract: Guardrail installation designs are described that incorporate a box beam rail as the structural rail member. The box beam rail member may have an open cross-section or a closed cross-section. An impact head is provided to bend and deflect the rail member during an end-on collision, allowing the rail member to be deflected away from the roadway and out of the path of an end-on impacting vehicle. The impact head includes a striking face and a chute portion that receives the box beam rail member therewithin. In addition to bending and deflecting the rail member, the impact head may also include a flattening section for flattening the rail member.

Abstract: An energy absorbing terminal is described that is made up of a plurality of cells partially defined by cambered panels made of thermoplastic or another suitable material. The panels are supported upon rectangular frames. The cambered portion of the panels provides a predetermined point of flexure for each panel and, thus, allows for energy dissipation during a collision. The stiffness of the crash cushion may be varied by altering material thicknesses and diaphragm spacing. In operation, a vehicle colliding in an end-on manner with the upstream end of the energy absorbing terminal will cause each of the cambered panels to bend angularly at its point of flexure and, thus, cause the cells to collapse axially. The use of thermoplastic, such as polyethylene results in a reversible, self-restoring collapse for the terminal, meaning that the terminal is reusable after most collisions.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a cable anchor system for an end terminal includes a cable anchor bracket configured to couple to a guardrail, in which the cable anchor bracket includes a flat plate having an aperture formed therein and a plurality of protrusions extending from a plane containing the aperture. The protrusions are configured to releasably engage the guardrail.

Abstract: An energy absorbing terminal is described that is made up of a plurality of cells partially defined by cambered panels made of thermoplastic or another suitable material. The panels are supported upon rectangular frames. The cambered portion of the panels provides a predetermined point of flexure for each panel and, thus, allows for energy dissipation during a collision. The stiffness of the crash cushion may be varied by altering material thicknesses and diaphragm spacing. In operation, a vehicle colliding in an end-on manner with the upstream end of the energy absorbing terminal will cause each of the cambered panels to bend angularly at its point of flexure and, thus, cause the cells to collapse axially. The use of thermoplastic, such as polyethylene results in a reversible, self-restoring collapse for the terminal, meaning that the terminal is reusable after most collisions.

Abstract: A locking hook bolt, which may be used for securing cable to support posts in guardrail assemblies, and a method for using the same are provided. The locking hook bolt includes a first leg, a second leg, and an arcuate portion coupling the first and second legs such that the second leg extends generally parallel with, and spaced apart from, the first leg. A locking portion configured to engage a support post extends from, and forms an angle of approximately 90 degrees with, the second leg. The first leg of the locking hook bolt includes a threaded portion opposite the arcuate portion.

Abstract: A cable guardrail release system includes a first number of anchor posts installed adjacent a roadway. Each of the first number of anchor posts secures an end of a respective cable. Each anchor post is operable to release the respective cable secured by the anchor post upon a vehicle impact to the anchor post. The system may include a length of need section that includes a plurality of intermediate support posts each configured to support each of the respective cables. The length of need section may include portions of each of the respective cables running in between the plurality of intermediate support posts. Each anchor post may be configured to resist release of the respective cable secured by the anchor post upon a vehicle impact to the length of need section generally at an angle to the flow of traffic on the roadway.

Abstract: A guardrail support post includes a continuous structural member having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a generally uniform cross section from the top edge to the bottom edge. The structural member includes first and second generally parallel flanges, and a web forming a coupling between, and extending generally perpendicular to the first and second flanges. The structural member includes a lower portion for installing below grade adjacent a roadway, and an upper portion configured to be coupled with a guardrail beam. A mid portion of the structural member is disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, the first and second flanges include first and second cutouts, respectively, that occur within the mid portion. The cutouts are operable to weaken the structural member about an axis generally perpendicular to the flanges without substantially weakening the structural member about an axis generally parallel to the flanges.

Abstract: A heavy duty ground retractable automobile barrier for a railroad crossing. Concrete bunkers are placed at each side of a roadway. An upstanding concrete-filled steel pipe fixed in each bunker has a sleeve for rotational and axial movement. Shock absorbers are mounted on each sleeve. A net extends across the road and is attached to the opposite ends of the shock absorbers. Collision of an automobile with the net creates tensile forces in the net. The shock absorbers expand while rotating about the pipe's axis in response to tensile forces from the net that meet or exceed a minimum threshold. Forces from the net pass through the axis of the steel pipe. The net is stored in a pit transverse the roadway parallel to the railroad tracks and is raised and lowered as appropriate. The net includes a cable that extends across the road in a wave pattern, having peaks, valleys and midpoints, wherein tangents of the wave midpoints are at least 90 degrees from tangents of the peaks and valleys.

Abstract: A cable release anchor having an improved breakaway post design with a cable release feature. The cable release anchor includes upper and lower anchor portions that are readily separable from one another during an impact. A bearing plate is retained within the end of each of the upper and lower anchor portions, and each bearing plate has a bearing surface that is oriented at an acute angle with the vertical when installed in the ground. Each of these bearing plates contains a U-shaped cutout. When the upper and lower anchor portions are joined, the cutouts form an opening through which an end of the tension cable is disposed. An impact to the upper anchor portion readily releases the upper post section from the lower post section and frees the cable. The cable release anchor provides positive anchorage to react to tensile loads on a rail member to redirect a vehicle impacting along the length of the terminal or guardrail.

Abstract: A deck drain apparatus is provided that allows builders to inexpensively configure deck drainage systems from standard AASHTO M180 highway guardrail. The apparatus includes a number of deck drain sections, butted together to form a drain channel. Each of the drain sections consists of a pan section and an inverted W-beam section. The pan section has a longitudinally elongated and flat conducting surface and two perforated sides. The two perforated sides project upwardly along opposite lateral edges of the conducting surface. The inverted W-beam section has a first perforated wall, a first upper surface, a lower surface, a second upper surface, and a second perforated wall. The perforated walls are longitudinally elongated and formed along opposite lateral edges of the inverted W-beam section. The first upper surface is formed between the first perforated wall and the lower surface. The second upper surface is formed between the lower surface and the second perforated wall.

Abstract: An impact attenuating barrier well extending longitudinally along a roadway and adapted to intercept an errant vehicle leaving the roadway and redirect the vehicle back onto the roadway. The wall comprises a fixed obstacle such as a concrete wall or a standard W-beam guardrail extending along the roadway. A plurality of first resilient energy absorbing HMW/HD polyethylene cylinders are arranged in side-by-side relationship between the obstacle and the roadway, the inner halves of adjacent cylinders defining gaps therebetween. A plurality of second resilient energy absorbing HMW/HD cylinders having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the first cylinders are located within the gaps to prevent snagging of an errant vehicle upon impact.