| Abstract: | Defining the service life of portable concrete barriers (PCBs) is important to reduce the risk of inferior, unsafe barriers being used on Texas roadways. The Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) implementation agreement allows state transportation agencies to continue the use of PCBs manufactured on or before December 31, 2019, and successfully tested to standards in National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report 350 or the 2009 edition of MASH throughout their normal service life. Damage to the precast barriers can occur in transit, in storage, or due to vehicular impact. When damage to the connections occurs, cracks, broken corners, and many other forms of damage can be sustained by the barrier. No federal guidance, however, has been developed to determine life expectancy for PCBs. There is a need to develop guidelines addressing the type and extent of barrier damage that constitute replacement of the segment. The research team documented best practices with respect to repairing or replacing PCB segments and utilized a combination of engineering evaluation, dynamic component testing, and full-scale crash testing to develop guidelines to assist in designing a process to determine useful service life. |
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