TESTING OF STATE ROADSIDE SAFETY SYSTEMS. VOLUME XIII: APPENDIX L - CRASH TESTING AND EVALUATION OF THE MODIFIED MELT

The purpose of this study is to crash test and evaluate new or modified roadside safety hardware and, where necessary, redesign the devices to improve their impact performance. The three major areas addressed in this study are the impact performance of bridge railings, transitions from guardrails to bridge railings, and end treatments for guardrails and median barriers. This report presents the results of two crash tests conducted on a modified MELT, with the 2000P test vehicle (i.e., a 2000-kg (4409-lb) pickup truck), in accordance with guidelines set forth in NCHRP Report 350 for test level 3 conditions. The first test was an end-on test at a nominal impact speed and angle of 100 km/h (62.2 mi/h) and 0 degree. The second test was a redirection test at the beginning of length of need at a nominal impact speed and angle of 100 km/h (62.2 mi/h) and 25 degrees. The MELT was judged to have performed satisfactorily on the end-on test, but failed in the redirection test. In the end-on test, the terminal gated and allowed the vehicle to proceed behind the guardrail as designed. In the redirection test, the W-beam rail element ruptured at the post 7 location, which allowed the vehicle to penetrate behind the guardrail. This volume is the thirteenth in a series of 14 volumes for the final report.