Structural behavior of cast-in-place and precast concrete barriers subjected to transverse static loading and anchored to bridge deck overhangs

In this study, experimental testing was performed on cast-in-place and precast barriers subjected to quasi-static loading and anchored to 6 m long bridge decks with a 1 m overhang. The three selected bridge barrier configurations include an ordinary concrete cast-in-place barrier, and two high performance fibre reinforced concrete precast barriers, one with and one without barrier-to-barrier connections. An experimental setup dedicated to testing the large-scale barrier-deck slab overhang specimens to failure was designed. The structural behavior of the three barrier configurations were analyzed and compared. The tests demonstrated that all three test configurations exceeded the design criteria in CSA-S6-06 and AASHTO LRFD, that the durability of the slab overhang is not adversely affected when using precast barriers, and that the shear key designed to connect the precast barriers provides adequate barrier longitudinal continuity.