Final Report Link:Multi-Directional Base Design for Steel Beam Non-Proprietary Large Sign Supports (coming soon)
TTI Research Supervisor: James Kovar, E.I.T Assistant Research Scientist Texas A&M Transportation Institute TAMU 3135 College Station, Texas 77843-3135 (979) 317-2680 [email protected]
Pooled Fund Technical Representative: Ted Whitmore Traffic Services Engineer WV DOT – Traffic Engineering Building 5, Room A-550 1900 Kanawha Blvd E. Charleston, WV 25305-0430 (304) 414-7373 [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Many larger sign support assemblies are evaluated through full-scale crash testing with an impact angle of 0 degrees, which represents a normal direction of traffic that are able to read the signage while traveling. However, some of these larger support structures are installed where perpendicular traffic is also exposed to impacts with the support structures. This situation is often found at intersections. The Roadside Safety Pooled Fund prioritized the development of a MASH compliant design for a support structure for larger have been developed for smaller sign supports, but this project is aimed at the larger supports for larger signs and sign assemblies.
In this project, the research team evaluated two designs for larger sign supports, one for a large route marker assembly and one for a guide sign. These two systems were designed to be crash tested with two impact angles, 0 degrees and 90 degrees. After a failure in MASH test 3-72 at 90 degrees on the guide sign system, the research team modified the fuse plate design to promote activation. This modified design also failed to meet MASH evaluation criteria. Subsequent crash tests evaluated the effectiveness of increasing the mounting height of the sign. These new designs were crash tested according to MASH test 3-72 criteria, and all failed to meet MASH evaluation criteria.
The research team recommends future research to investigate a modified design which limits the airborne trajectory of the posts and sign panel. This may include further modifications to the fuse plate, a restraint mechanism on the posts, raising the height of the fuse plate but retaining the mounting height of the sign, or other design changes.
