Evaluation of Recycled Content Guardrail Posts

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in the use of recycled materials in highway-related areas by state agencies and research organizations. In the present paper, guardrail posts manufactured from recycled materials are evaluated for possible use in conventional strong-post guardrail systems. Basic physical and mechanical properties of posts are determined through static laboratory tests such as flexure, creep, and density. Their response to environmental variables such as temperature, moisture, and freeze/thaw are investigated through exposure tests. The dynamic response performance of the posts is determined using pendulum impact tests. Static cantilever bending tests have shown that recycled posts are more flexible than conventional wood and steel posts; however, the ultimate load capacities for several recycled posts are comparable to that of conventional posts. The pendulum test results show that the energy absorption of some of the recycled posts is as high as that of conventional wood posts. As a result, the overall performance of recycled posts compares favorably with conventional posts.