Patent ID: 6290427
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: E01F

Abstract:
A guardrail beam for installation along a roadway, comprising:a top edge;a bottom edge;a plurality of crowns disposed longitudinally along the guardrail beam between the top edge and the bottom edge;the crowns corresponding with the configuration of a conventional W-beam guardrail;a plurality of fluted beads disposed longitudinally along at least one crown;a plurality of splice bolt slots formed in the guardrail beam;a plurality of post bolt slots formed in the guardrail beam for attaching the guardrail beam to a plurality of support posts;a first fold disposed longitudinally along the top edge;a second fold disposed longitudinally along the bottom edge; andthe first fold and the second fold cooperating with each other to more uniformly distribute loads applied to the guardrail at the splice bolt slots and the post bolt slots and to minimize buckling during a crash event.