DraftDraftManual for Assessing SafetyManual for Assessing Safety

HardwareHardware(MASH 08)(MASH 08)

Dean L. Sicking, Ph.D., P.E.Dean L. Sicking, Ph.D., P.E.Midwest Roadside Safety FacilityMidwest Roadside Safety FacilityNebraska Transportation CenterNebraska Transportation CenterUniversity of NebraskaUniversity of Nebraska--LincolnLincoln

NCHRP Report 350NCHRP Report 350

•• Published in 1993Published in 1993

•• Replaced NCHRP Report 230, published inReplaced NCHRP Report 230, published in19811981

•• Formally adopted by FHWAFormally adopted by FHWA

1994 Federal Rule1994 Federal Rule

All newly installed safety features must meetAll newly installed safety features must meetReport 350 criteriaReport 350 criteria

Effective in 1998Effective in 1998

First ever national mandate on safetyFirst ever national mandate on safetyhardware evaluation criteriahardware evaluation criteria

FHWA MandateFHWA Mandate

•• Many widely used safety features did not meetMany widely used safety features did not meetprevious 2 sets of criteria (NCHRP 230 and TRCprevious 2 sets of criteria (NCHRP 230 and TRC191).191).

•• Initially, little funding for testing under 350Initially, little funding for testing under 350

•• In 1998In 1998

Some hardware categories could not meet 350Some hardware categories could not meet 350

Many systems still not testedMany systems still not tested

•• AASHTO/FHWA Task Force convenedAASHTO/FHWA Task Force convened

Revised schedule for Report 350 implementationRevised schedule for Report 350 implementation

Gave AASHTO responsibility for future updatesGave AASHTO responsibility for future updates

AASHTOAASHTO--FHWA AgreementFHWA Agreement

““The Task Force for Roadside Safety of theThe Task Force for Roadside Safety of theHighway Subcommittee on Design shallHighway Subcommittee on Design shallhereby be assigned the responsibility forhereby be assigned the responsibility forevaluating and recommending for approval byevaluating and recommending for approval byAASHTO, new procedures for safetyAASHTO, new procedures for safetyperformance evaluation of highway features.performance evaluation of highway features.””

AASHTO requested FHWA to review andAASHTO requested FHWA to review andapprove safety hardware under Report 350.approve safety hardware under Report 350.

Need for UpdateNeed for Update

•• NCHRP Report 350NCHRP Report 350

Published in 1993Published in 1993

Historically updated every 8Historically updated every 8--10 years10 years

•• HighwaysHighways

National speed limit law dropped in 1996National speed limit law dropped in 1996

•• VehiclesVehicles

Mass increaseMass increase

ABS & air bagsABS & air bags

820C & 2000P vehicles disappearing820C & 2000P vehicles disappearing

Primary FocusPrimary Focus

• Update test vehicles & impact conditions

• Eliminate ambiguities

• Reduce inconsistencies

• Refine test matrices to eliminatemeaningless tests.

• Tighten reporting procedures

Most Significant ChangesMost Significant Changes

• TL-4, single unit truck test revised: Mass increased from 18000 lb to 22,000 lb

Speed increased from 50 mph to 56 mph

Height of ballast c.g. reduced from 67” to 63”

32” high barriers not likely to meet TL-4

• P/U & small car masses increased

• Impact angle for small car increased to 25o

• Impact angle for terminals and crash cushionsraised to 25o

TLTL--4 Test of 324 Test of 32”” New Jersey BarrierNew Jersey Barrier

Most Significant ChangesMost Significant Changes(Continued)(Continued)

• Critical impact points refined

• Breakaway devices must be tested with bothP/U & small car

• Windshield damage & occupantcompartment deformation limits relaxed &extended to all tests

• Eliminate marginal category

• Set maximum roll angle to 75o

• Many more minor changes

Proposed Implementation PlanProposed Implementation Plan

•• The AASHTO TCRS is responsible for developingThe AASHTO TCRS is responsible for developingand maintaining MASH 08.and maintaining MASH 08.

•• FHWA shall review and accept highway safetyFHWA shall review and accept highway safetyhardware under MASH 08.hardware under MASH 08.

•• All hardware accepted under Report 350 canAll hardware accepted under Report 350 canremain in place and new installations can be made.remain in place and new installations can be made.

•• Wherever possible, all new safety hardwareWherever possible, all new safety hardwareinstallations should meet MASH 08 or Report 350installations should meet MASH 08 or Report 350

•• Existing safety hardware that is not 350 or MASHExisting safety hardware that is not 350 or MASH08 approved should be replaced when roadway is08 approved should be replaced when roadway isreconstructed, subject of a 3R project, or 50% ofreconstructed, subject of a 3R project, or 50% ofsystem is damagedsystem is damaged

Proposed Implementation PlanProposed Implementation Plan

•• Hardware under development at time of AASHTOHardware under development at time of AASHTOacceptance can be completed under Report 350.acceptance can be completed under Report 350.

•• FHWA will not consider applications under ReportFHWA will not consider applications under Report350 after January 1, 2010.350 after January 1, 2010.

•• Hardware classes without 350 approved systemsHardware classes without 350 approved systemscan continue to be used until such time as a MASHcan continue to be used until such time as a MASH08 or Report 350 design becomes available08 or Report 350 design becomes available