Wire Rope Safety Barriers – curves, sags and crests.
Because Wire Rope Safety Barrier systems consist of ropes in tension, the minimum allowable horizontal curve radius is 200 metres in most jurisdictions. When designing, the effect of the curve on barrier deflection should also be considered (see VicRoads RDN 06-02 for details).
The minimum allowable sag curve K value is 30. The use of intermediate anchors at the base of sag curves may be considered to reduce ropes from rising. There is no K value limit for crest curves. Information on K values can be found in the Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 3, section 8.1.
Always check the manufacturer’s minimum requirements for specific products.