BRIDGE DECK DESIGNS FOR RAILING IMPACTS. FINAL REPORT

Current specifications by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges set forth certain structural design requirements for bridge railings and the corresponding bridge decks. Observations of deck failure patterns in recent crash tests and observed deck failures at vehicle collision sites have raised questions concerning current specifications. The Texas Transportation Institute, in conjunction with the Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation, has been studying the problem on three types of bridge rails used in Texas. Full-scale deck sections with a post, a parapet, or an 8 ft section of concrete safety shaped railing were built and tested. The three types tested were the Texas T101, T202, and T5 bridge railings. The findings of this testing are contained in this report.