Yielding post guardrail safety system

Abstract

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, a guardrail safety system includes a guardrail beam having a length-of-need (LON) portion spanning between two terminal portions. The guardrail safety system also includes a plurality of guardrail support posts in spaced apart relation to one another. At least a portion of the plurality of support posts include a lower portion for installing below grade adjacent the roadway, a mid portion that lies substantially adjacent the grade, and an upper portion releasably coupled to the LON portion of the guardrail beam. The mid portion includes a weakened section operable to weaken the support post about a first axis without substantially changing the behavior of the support post about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis.

1 . A guardrail safety system, comprising: 
 a guardrail beam comprising a length-of-need (LON) portion spanning between two terminal portions; and    a plurality of guardrail support posts in spaced apart relation to one another, at least a portion of the plurality of support posts comprising: 
 a lower portion for installing below grade adjacent the roadway;  
 a mid portion that lies substantially adjacent the grade, the mid portion including a weakened section operable to weaken the support post about a first axis without substantially changing the behavior of the support post about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis; and  
 an upper portion releasably coupled to the LON portion of the guardrail beam.  
   
   
   
       2 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 1 , wherein the weakened section comprises at least one cutout formed in the mid portion of the support post.  
   
   
       3 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 1 , wherein the weakened section comprises at least one aperture selected from the group consisting of a square, rectangle, circle, oval, ellipse, and trapezoid.  
   
   
       4 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 1 , wherein the weakened section comprises at least one cutout selected from the group consisting of a notch, a diamond-shaped notch, a semi-circle opening, and a sawcut.  
   
   
       5 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 4 , wherein the cutout is formed in a surface of the support post proximate an outer edge of the support post.  
   
   
       6 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 1 , wherein the support post is comprised of steel.  
   
   
       7 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 6 , wherein the support post is selected from the group consisting of an I-beam, an H-beam, a C-channel, an S-beam, a W-beam, and a M-beam.  
   
   
       8 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 6 , wherein the support post is selected from the group consisting of a W6×9 Wide flange, a W8×10 Wide flange, and a W6×8.5 Wide flange.  
   
   
       9 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 1 , wherein the support post is comprised of wood.  
   
   
       10 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 1 , wherein the support post is comprised of plastic.  
   
   
       11 . A guardrail safety system, comprising: 
 a terminal section comprising: 
 a terminal portion of a guardrail beam; and  
 a plurality of terminal support posts installed adjacent a roadway in spaced apart relation to one another, each terminal support post coupled to the terminal portion of the guardrail beam; and  
   a length-of-need (LON) section comprising: 
 a LON portion of the guardrail beam; and  
 a plurality of LON support posts installed adjacent the roadway in spaced apart relation to one another, each LON support post coupled to the LON portion of the guardrail beam and comprising: 
 a lower portion for installing below grade adjacent the roadway;  
 a mid portion that lies substantially adjacent the grade, the mid portion including a weakened section operable to weaken the support post about a first axis without substantially changing the behavior of the support post about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis; and  
 an upper portion releasably coupled to the LON portion of the guardrail beam.  
 
   
   
   
       12 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 11 , wherein the weakened section comprises at least one cutout formed in the mid portion of the LON support post.  
   
   
       13 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 11 , wherein the weakened section comprises an aperture selected from the group consisting of a square, rectangle, circle, oval, ellipse, and trapezoid.  
   
   
       14 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 11 , wherein the weakened section comprises at least one cutout selected from the group consisting of a notch, a diamond-shaped notch, a semi-circle opening, and a sawcut formed in a surface of the LON support post.  
   
   
       15 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 14 , wherein the cutout is formed in a surface that is proximate an outer edge of the support post.  
   
   
       16 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 11 , wherein each LON support post is comprised of steel.  
   
   
       17 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 16 , wherein each LON support post is selected from the group consisting of an I-beam, an H-beam, a C-channel, an S-beam, a W-beam, and a M-beam.  
   
   
       18 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 16 , wherein each LON support post is selected from the group consisting of a W6×9 Wide flange, a W8×10 Wide flange, and a W6×8.5 Wide flange.  
   
   
       19 . The guardrail safety system of  claim 11 , wherein each LON support post is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic and wood.  
   
   
       20 . A guardrail safety system, comprising: 
 a terminal section comprising: 
 a terminal portion of a guardrail beam; and  
 a plurality of terminal support posts installed adjacent a roadway in spaced apart relation to one another, each terminal support post coupled to the first terminal portion of the guardrail beam; and  
   a length-of-need (LON) section comprising: 
 a LON portion of the guardrail beam; and  
 a plurality of LON support posts installed adjacent the roadway in spaced apart relation to one another, each LON support post selected from the group consisting of a W6×9 Wide flange, a W8×10 Wide flange, and a W6×8.5 Wide flange, each LON support post coupled to the LON portion of the guardrail beam and comprising: 
 a lower portion for installing below grade adjacent the roadway;  
 a mid portion that lies substantially adjacent the grade, the mid portion including a weakened section selected from the group consisting of at least one cutout, at least one notch, at least one diamond-shaped notch, at least one sawcut, and at least one aperture, and at least one semi-circular opening, the weakened section operable to weaken the support post about a first axis without substantially changing the behavior of the support post about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis; and  
 an upper portion releasably coupled to the LON portion of the guardrail beam.