A BRIDGE PARAPET DESIGNED FOR SAFETY: GENERAL MOTORS PROVING GROUND CIRCULAR TEST TRACK PROJECT

THIS PAPER DESCRIBES THE DESIGN AND TESTING OF AN IMPROVED BRIDGE PARAPET SUBSEQUENTLY INCORPORATED IN TWO BRIDGE STRUCTURES AT THE GENERAL MOTORS PROVING GROUND. THESE PARAPETS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM SAFETY TO THE OCCUPANTS OF VEHICLES STRIKING THEM. TESTING INVOLVED RUNNING FULL-SCALE REMOTELY-CONTROLLED VEHICLES INTO TEST SECTIONS CONSTRUCTED ESPECIALLY FOR THIS PURPOSE. THESE VEHICLES INCLUDE PASSENGER CARS OF VARIOUS SIZES AND A LOADED 2 1/2 TON TRUCK. PERFORMANCE OF THE FINAL DESIGN IS SATISFACTORY IN ALL RESPECTS AND COSTS ARE NOT EXCESSIVE. /RRL/A/