In many parts of the world, drifting sand is a constant challenge. One of the biggest problems is what happens when the sand reaches a solid roadside barrier.
Concrete and other barrier systems that do not allow sand to pass through act like a fence, trapping sand. The sand banks up against the barrier and can spill onto the road, creating a hazard for motorists, lessening the effectiveness of barrier systems (as vehicle trajectory can altered) and increasing maintenance requirements.
Wire rope safety barriers allows sand to pass through the barrier rather than accumulating against it. This helps reduce sand build-up next to the barrier and on the carriageway.
This isn’t just a theoretical benefit. Research by Fabian Marsh and Richard Webster published in the Journal of Road Safety found that replacing a steel W-beam median barrier with a wire rope safety barrier successfully mitigated localised sand accumulation. The authors concluded that wire rope barriers should be considered in desert environments where drifting sand is an ongoing issue.
A challenge has always been bridges and other structures. Traditionally, wire rope barriers have not been considered suitable on structures because of concerns about containing heavier vehicles, requiring a transition to a solid barrier where the sand problem starts again.
That’s why we were excited when our friends at Blue Systems in Sweden sent us this footage of a wire rope barrier developed specifically for use on structures. The video shows the system successfully undergoing full-scale crash testing.
If this type of system becomes more widely adopted, it could allow wire rope barriers to continue seamlessly across structures, reducing the need for solid barriers and helping minimise sand accumulation on the road.
A great example of engineering solving more than one problem at a time.
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The Research: Marsh, Fabian & Webster, Richard. (2018). Mitigating Localised Sand Accumulation Using Wire Rope Safety Barrier. Journal of Road Safety. 29.
Video Credit: Blue Systems