State highway agencies across the country are upgrading standards, policies, and processes to satisfy the 2016 AASHTO/FHWA Joint Implementation Agreement for the AASHTO Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH). Temporary work-zone devices, including portable concrete barriers (PCB), let on projects after December 31, 2019, must have been successfully tested using MASH 2016. Devices used on projects let before this date may continue to be used throughout their normal service lives. Thus, an opportunity exists to review the performance of existing connections between PCB segments and develop high-performance connections. The new connections between portable concrete barrier segments shall meet the MASH safety criteria as well as reduce the deflection, and improve constructability and durability.

 

The objective of this research was to develop a guideline for connection details between PCB segments. At a minimum, the guideline shall include two parts: (1) performance summary of the existing connection and (2) development of new connection details between PCB segments.