LAUSR

Fibre composite guardrails are increasingly being used due to its high strength, high corrosion resistance and low maintenance, although there is very limited information on their structural behaviour. In this study, full-scale pultruded glass fibre reinforced polymer guardrail is experimentally investigated to have a better understanding on the behaviour of fibre composites guardrail system. Glass fibre reinforced polymer guardrail systems mounted on top and side of a steel beam with different joint connectors are loaded horizontally to top of the guardrail post and to the middle of the guardrail member. The results showed that the guardrail system with joints connected with either polypin or rivets combined with epoxy exhibited 20% higher failure load and almost double the stiffness than those connected using polypin or rivets alone. The side-mounted guardrail failed due to failure of the base connector, while the guardrail mounted on top of the beam failed due to failure of the joint connector. Finally, the results of the study indicated that the structural behaviour of glass fibre reinforced polymer guardrail system is affected mainly by the type of joints connecting the different members.