Chap 17

Chapter 17 - Emergency Escape Ramps Publication 13M (DM-2)
CHAPTER 17
EMERGENCY ESCAPE RAMPS
17.0 INTRODUCTION
Where long, descending grades exist or where topographic and location controls require such grades on new
alignment, the design and construction of an emergency escape ramp at an appropriate location is desirable to
provide a location for out-of-control vehicles, particularly trucks, to slow and stop away from the main traffic
stream. Out-of-control vehicles are generally the result of a driver losing braking ability either through overheating
of the brakes due to mechanical failure or failure to downshift at the appropriate time. The loss of stopping
capability of a heavy vehicle on a downgrade resulting in an "out-of-control" situation is a relatively infrequent
event. The results of that event, however, in many cases are spectacular and very costly in both lives lost and
property damage.
Even the best road design cannot fully compensate for the "out-of-control" problem in mountainous terrain, and
vehicle performance standards can provide for heavy vehicle control on long and/or steep downgrades only when
the use of gear shifting and braking are properly combined to reduce speeds.
Static signing and stopping areas (turnouts or pull off areas) located before severe downgrades, to be used for
voluntary or mandatory brake inspections and for cooling of brakes to restore their stopping capabilities, are the
methods most commonly used to provide proper information to the drivers and provide an opportunity for checking
the operation of the equipment prior to descent. In addition, information about the grade ahead and the location of
escape ramps can be provided by diagrammetric signing. Refer to Publication 212, Official Traffic Control Devices.
The Department has constructed and maintains emergency escape ramps throughout the Commonwealth. Reports
and evaluations indicate that these escape ramps have reduced property damage and more importantly have saved
lives. The design criteria presented in this chapter have been developed by the Department through research by The
Pennsylvania State University. The goal of this research project was to understand the physical characteristics of the
stopping mechanism and to provide a means for adequately designing and maintaining gravel arrester beds. Full-
scale testing was performed at operational gravel arrester beds within the state as well as at two research gravel
arrester beds located at The Pennsylvania Transportation Institute's (PTI) Research Facility.
Additional information and details can be obtained from The Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, A Field and
Laboratory Study to Establish Truck Escape Ramp Design Methodology, Report No. FHWA-PA-86-034+83-23,
October 1988 and the AASHTO Green Book.
17.1 DYNAMICS OF A VEHICLE
The effectiveness of gravel arrester beds in stopping runaway vehicles results from the interaction between vehicle
motion and gravel movement. The motion can be predicted if the forces acting on the vehicle can be predicted
because Newton's law gives the deceleration if the forces and masses of the vehicle are known.
Resistance forces that act on every vehicle and affect the vehicle's speed include engine, braking and tractive
resistance forces. Engine and braking resistance forces can be ignored in the design of emergency escape ramps
because the ramp should be designed for the worst case; that is, the vehicle is out of gear and the brake system has
failed. Tractive resistance forces contain four subclasses: inertial, aerodynamic, rolling and gradient. Inertial and
negative gradient resistance forces act to maintain motion of the vehicle while rolling, positive gradient and air
resistance forces act to retard its motion. The 2004 AASHTO Green Book, Chapter 3, Exhibit 3-65 illustrates the
action of the various resistance forces on a vehicle in motion.
17 - 1
Inertial resistance force can be described as a force that resists movement in a vehicle at rest or keeps a vehicle in
motion, unless the vehicle is acted upon by some external force. Inertial resistance force must be overcome to either
increase or decrease the speed of a vehicle. Rolling and positive gradient resistance forces are available to overcome
the inertial resistance force. Rolling resistance force is a general term used to describe the resistance to motion at
the area of contact between a vehicle's tires and the roadway surface and is only applicable when a vehicle is in
motion. It is influenced by the type and displacement characteristics of the surfacing material of the roadway.
Gradient resistance force is due to the effect of gravity and is expressed as the force needed to move the vehicle
through a vertical distance. For gradient resistance force to provide a beneficial force on an escape ramp, the vehicle
must be moving upgrade against gravity. In the case where the vehicle is descending a grade, gradient resistance
force is negative, thereby reducing the forces available to slow and stop the vehicle. It is influenced by the total
mass (weight) of the vehicle and the magnitude of the grade.
The remaining component of tractive resistance force is aerodynamic resistance force. Air causes a significant
resistance at speeds above 80 km/h (50 mph) and is negligible under 30 km/h (20 mph). The effect of aerodynamic
resistance has been neglected in determining the length of the arrester bed in this chapter.
17.2 NEED AND LOCATION
Each grade has its own unique characteristics. Highway alignment, gradient, length and descent speed contribute to
the potential for out-of-control vehicles. For existing highways, operational problems on a downgrade will often be
reported by law enforcement officials, truck drivers or the general public. A field review of a specific grade may
reveal damaged guide rail, gouged pavement surfaces or spilled oil indicating locations where drivers of heavy
vehicles had difficulty negotiating a downgrade. For existing facilities, an escape ramp should be provided as soon
as a need is established. Crash experience (or, for new facilities, use crash experience on similar facilities) and truck
operations on the grade combined with engineering judgment are used frequently to determine the need for a truck
escape ramp. Often the impact of potential runaway trucks on adjacent activities or population centers will provide
sufficient reason to construct an escape ramp. Likewise, for Interstate highways on extended lengths of maximum
or near maximum descending grades, emergency escape ramps should be added where an evaluation indicates they
are required.
Unnecessary escape ramps should be avoided. For example, a second escape ramp should not be needed just
beyond the curve that created the need for the initial ramp.
While there are no universal guidelines available for new and existing facilities, a variety of factors should be
considered in selecting the specific site for an escape ramp. Each location presents a different array of design needs;
factors that should be considered include topography, length and percent of grade, potential speed, economics,
environmental impact and crash experience. Ramps should be located to intercept the greatest number of runaway
vehicles, such as at the bottom of the grade and at intermediate points along the grade where an out-of-control
vehicle could cause a catastrophic crash.
A technique for new and existing facilities available for use in analyzing operations on a grade, in addition to crash
analysis, is the Grade Severity Rating System. The system uses a predetermined brake temperature limit (260 °C
(500 °F)) to establish a safe descent speed for the grade. It also can be used to determine expected brake
temperatures at 0.8 km (0.5 mi) intervals along the downgrade. The location where brake temperatures exceed the
limit indicates the point that brake failures can occur, leading to potential runaways.
Escape ramps generally may be built at any practical location where the main road alignment is tangent. They
should be built in advance of horizontal curves that cannot be negotiated safely by an out-of-control vehicle and in
advance of populated areas. Escape ramps should exit to the right of the roadway. On divided multilane highways,
where a left exit may appear to be the only practical location, difficulties may be expected by the refusal of vehicles
in the left lane to yield to out-of-control vehicles attempting to change lanes.
Although crashes involving runaway trucks usually can occur at various sites along a grade, locations having
multiple crashes should be analyzed in detail. Analysis of crash data pertinent to a prospective site should include
evaluation of the section of highway immediately uphill including the amount of curvature traversed and distance to
and radius of the adjacent curve.
17 - 2
An integral part of the evaluation should be the determination of the maximum speed that an out-of-control vehicle
could attain at the proposed site. This highest obtainable speed can then be used as the minimum design speed for
the ramp. The 130 to 140 km/h (80 to 90 mph) entry speed, recommended for design, is intended to represent an
extreme condition and therefore should not be used as the basis for selecting locations of escape ramps. Although
the variables involved make it impractical to establish a maximum truck speed warrant for location of escape ramps,
it is evident that anticipated speeds should be below the range used for design. The principal factor in determining
the need for an emergency escape ramp should be the safety of the other traffic on the roadway, the driver of the out-
of-control vehicle and the residents along and at the bottom of the grade. An escape ramp, or ramps if the conditions
indicate the need for more than one, should be located wherever grades are of a steepness and length that present a
substantial risk of runaway trucks and topographic conditions will permit construction.
17.3 TYPES OF EMERGENCY ESCAPE RAMPS
Emergency escape ramps have been classified in a variety of ways. Three broad categories used to classify ramps
are gravity, sandpile and arrester bed. Within these broad categories, four basic emergency escape ramp designs
predominate. These designs are the sandpile and three types of arrester beds, classified by grade of the arrester bed:
descending grade, horizontal grade and ascending grade. Typical escape ramps are shown in the 2004 AASHTO
Green Book, Chapter 3, Exhibits 3-67 and 3-68.
The gravity ramp has a paved or densely compacted aggregate surface, relying primarily on gravitational forces to
slow and stop the runaway. Rolling resistance forces contribute little to assist in stopping the vehicle. Gravity
ramps are usually long and steep and are constrained by topographic controls and costs. While a gravity ramp stops
forward motion, the paved surface cannot prevent the vehicle from rolling back down the ramp grade and
jackknifing without a positive capture mechanism. Therefore, the gravity ramp is the least desirable of the escape
ramp types.
Sandpiles, composed of loose, dry sand dumped at the ramp site, are usually no more than 120 m (400 ft) in length.
The influence of gravity is dependent on the slope of the surface. The increase in rolling resistance is supplied by
loose sand. Deceleration characteristics of sandpiles are usually severe and the sand can be affected by weather.
Because of the deceleration characteristics, the sandpile is less desirable than the arrester bed. However, at locations
where inadequate space exists for another type of ramp, the sandpile may be appropriate because of its compact
dimensions.
Descending-grade arrester-bed escape ramps are constructed parallel and adjacent to the through lanes of the
highway. These ramps use loose aggregate in an arrester bed to increase rolling resistance to slow the vehicle. The
gradient resistance acts in the direction of vehicle movement. As a result, the descending-grade ramps can be rather
lengthy because the gravitational effect is not acting to help reduce the speed of the vehicle. The ramp should have
a clear, obvious return path to the highway so drivers who doubt the effectiveness of the ramp will feel they will be
able to return to the highway at a reduced speed.
Where the topography can accommodate, a horizontal-grade arrester-bed escape ramp is another option.
Constructed on an essentially flat gradient, the horizontal-grade ramp relies on the increased rolling resistance from
the loose aggregate in an arrester bed to slow and stop the out-of-control vehicle, since the effect of gravity is
minimal. This type of ramp is longer than the ascending-grade arrester bed.
The most commonly used escape ramp is the ascending-grade arrester bed. Ramp installations of this type use
gradient resistance to its advantage, supplementing the effects of the aggregate in the arrester bed, and in general,
reducing the length of ramp needed to stop the vehicle. The loose material in the arresting bed increases the rolling
resistance, as in the other types of ramps, while the gradient resistance acts downgrade, opposite to the vehicle
movement. The loose bedding material also serves to hold the vehicle in place on the ramp grade after it has come
to a safe stop.
Each of the ramp types is applicable to a particular situation where an emergency escape ramp is desirable and
should be compatible with established location and topographic controls at possible sites. The procedures used for
analysis of truck escape ramps are essentially the same for each of the categories or types identified. The rolling
resistance factor for the surfacing material used in determining the length needed to slow and stop the runaway
safely is the difference in the procedures.
17 - 3
17.4 ELEMENTS OF DESIGN
The principal factor in determining the need for an emergency escape ramp should be the safety of the other traffic
on the roadway, the driver of the out-of-control vehicle and the residents along and at the bottom of the grade.
To safely stop an out-of-control vehicle, the length of an escape ramp should be sufficient to dissipate the kinetic
energy of the moving vehicle. A "last chance" device at the end of the ramp, such as a mound or a row of barrels,
should be considered when the consequences of leaving the end of ramp are serious.
There are numerous elements which affect the performance of emergency escape ramps. The depth, length and
slope as well as the gradation, density and type of material are important factors in the performance of an arresting
bed.
Resistance forces limit the maximum speed of an out-of-control vehicle. Speeds in excess of 130 to 140 km/h (80 to
90 mph) will rarely, if ever, be attained. For the escape ramp to be effective, it must stop the largest vehicle
expected to use the ramp; generally a truck, such as a WB-15 (WB-50) or a WB-18 (WB-60).
Access to the ramp should be made obvious by exit signing, with sufficient sight distance in advance, to allow the
driver of an out-of-control vehicle time to react, so as to minimize the possibility of missing the ramp. Advance
signing is needed to inform drivers of the existence of an escape ramp and to prepare drivers well in advance of the
decision point so that they will have enough time to decide whether or not to use the escape ramp. Regulatory signs
near the entrance should be used to discourage other motorists from entering, stopping, or parking at or on the ramp.
The path of the ramp should be delineated to define ramp edges and provide nighttime direction. Illumination of the
approach and ramp is desirable.
Design recommendations for emergency escape ramps are divided into the following subsections: (1) Basic Bed
Length, (2) Barrels, (3) Mounds, (4) Length Design with Combination of Bed, Mounds and Barrels, (5) Bed Design
and (6) Incidental Items.
A. Basic Bed Length. The basic bed length (L) required without mounds or barrels is given by a third-order
equation:
L = A + BV + CV2 + DV3 (Eq. 17-1)
where:
L = Basic bed length (m (ft)).
V = Entry speed (km/h (mph)).
A,B,C,D = Constants given in Table 17.1.
The above equation is used to calculate the basic bed length for entry speeds up to 140 km/h (90 mph). However,
the values of the constants used with the equation are different. In Table 17.1, a set of values is given for entry
speeds from 50 to 100 km/h (30 to 60 mph) and another set of values for entry speeds from 101 to 140 km/h (61 to
90 mph).
To calculate L, the entry speed and bed grade are chosen, and then the constants can be determined from Table 17.1.
METRIC EXAMPLE: To find the length required for an entry speed of 100 km/h at 0% grade and 10% grade, the
constants are first found from Table 17.1.
0% grade 10% grade

A0 = 0.992 202 49 A10 = -1.804 566 84
B0 = 0.032 091 92 B10 = 0.118 240 57
C0 = 0.005 095 26 C10 = 0.003 723 85
D0 = 0.000 047 68 D10 = 0.000 031 98
17 - 4
By substituting these values into Equation 17-1, lengths of 103 m for a bed with 0% grade and 79 m for a bed with
10% grade are found. As shown here, if conditions dictate a shorter bed length, the grade of the bed is required to
be steeper.
1. Graphs for Designing the Bed Length. Figure 17.1 is a plot of Equation 17-1 using the values from Table
17.1 and thus can be used as an alternative to Equation 17-1 for designing bed length. In the example given
above, the 100 km/h line would be followed to the 0% grade curve where the length of 103 m is indicated. For
a 10% slope, the 100 km/h line would be followed to the 10% grade curve, where the length of 79 m, is shown.
The basic bed length is also given in Table 17.2 which results from using Equation 17-1 and the constants from
Table 17.1. The basic bed length is given for entry speeds of 2 km/h increments from 50 to 140 km/h. This
table is to be used as a quick reference during preliminary design and for review of final plans for emergency
escape ramps.
ENGLISH EXAMPLE: To find the length required for an entry speed of 60 mph at 0% grade and 10% grade, the
constants are first found from Table 17.1.
0% grade 10% grade

A0 = 3.2552575 A10 = -5.92049487
B0 = 0.16944534 B10 = 0.62431019
C0 = 0.04329616 C10 = 0.03164279
D0 = 0.00065202 D10 = 0.00043730
By substituting these values into Equation 17-1, lengths of 310 ft for a bed with 0% grade and 240 ft for a bed with
10% grade are found. As shown here, if conditions dictate a shorter bed length, the grade of the bed is required to
be steeper.
1. Graphs for Designing the Bed Length. Figure 17.1 is a plot of Equation 17-1 using the values from Table
17.1 and thus can be used as an alternative to Equation 17-1 for designing bed length. In the example given
above, the 60 mph line would be followed to the 0% grade curve where the length of 310 ft is indicated. For a
10% slope, the 60 mph line would be followed to the 10% grade curve, where the length of 260 ft, is shown.
The basic bed length is also given in Table 17.2 which results from using Equation 17-1 and the constants from
Table 17.1. The basic bed length is given for entry speeds of 2 mph increments from 30 to 90 mph. This table
is to be used as a quick reference during preliminary design and for review of final plans for emergency escape
ramps.
17 - 5
17 - 6
17 - 7
TABLE 17.1 (METRIC)

VALUES FOR CONSTANTS USED TO CALCULATE
BASIC BED LENGTH IN EQUATION 17-1
50 TO 100 km/h
CONSTANT
PERCENT GRADE OF BED
-5 0 5 10 15 20 25
A -15.172 944 00 0.992 202 49 -4.921 267 79 -1.804 566 84 0.492 795 03 1.457 464 15 7.102 965 24
B 0.782 196 97 0.032 091 92 0.264 322 13 0.118 240 57 -0.010 606 62 -0.039 982 48 -0.303 254 64
C -0.006 001 88 0.005 095 26 0.001 874 60 0.003 723 85 0.005 658 15 0.005 612 71 0.009 278 71
D 0.000 120 66 0.000 047 68 0.000 049 02 0.000 031 98 0.000 015 32 0.000 012 06 -0.000 008 81
101 TO 140 km/h

CONSTANT
-5 0 5 10 15 20 25
A -282.525 459 84 -86.921 166 05 -22.415 263 66 -23.581 269 96 -30.226 931 56 -4.254 939 42 -3.029 281 62
B 8.624 979 66 2.744 483 34 0.794 359 49 0.736 911 89 0.836 898 03 0.177 542 32 0.093 922 63
C -0.083 083 36 -0.023 107 90 -0.003 412 29 -0.002 057 50 -0.002 419 34 0.002 973 24 0.003 926 11
D 0.000 374 69 0.000 146 79 0.000 066 36 0.000 049 74 0.000 042 33 0.000 022 58 0.000 015 36
17 - 8
TABLE 17.1 (ENGLISH)

VALUES FOR CONSTANTS USED TO CALCULATE
BASIC BED LENGTH IN EQUATION 17-1
30 TO 60 mph
CONSTANT
-5 0 5 10 15 20 25
A -49.78 3.2552575 -16.14589169 -5.92049487 1.61678158 4.78170653 23.30369173
B 4.13 0.16944534 1.39562086 0.62431019 -0.05600296 -0.21110752 -1.60118449
C -0.051 0.04329616 0.01592913 0.03164279 0.04807917 0.04769312 0.07884436
D 0.00165 0.00065202 0.00067035 0.00043730 0.00020949 0.00016497 -0.00012045
61 TO 90 mph
CONSTANT
-5 0 5 10 15 20 25
A -926.9208 -285.1744293 -73.54089126 -77.36637125 -99.16972295 -13.9597750 -9.93858798
B 45.53989258 14.49087202 4.19421811 3.8908948 4.41882161 0.93742345 0.49591149
C -0.70598725 -0.19635557 -0.02899535 -0.01748326 -0.02055797 0.02526466 0.03336147
D 0.00512399 0.00200734 0.00090754 0.00068014 0.00057884 0.00030885 0.00021004
17 - 9
TABLE 17.2 (METRIC)

BASIC BED LENGTH FOR ENTRY
SPEED FOR SOME BED GRADES
BASIC BED LENGTH (m)
ENTRY SPEED
(km/h)
-5 0 5 10 15 20 25
50 24 21 19 17 16 15 14
52 26 23 21 19 17 16 15
54 29 25 23 20 19 18 16
56 31 27 24 22 20 19 18
58 34 29 26 24 22 20 19
60 36 32 28 26 24 22 20
62 39 34 30 27 25 23 22
64 42 36 33 29 27 25 23
66 45 39 35 31 29 27 25
68 48 42 37 34 31 28 27
70 52 45 40 36 33 30 28
72 55 48 42 38 35 32 30
74 59 51 45 40 37 34 32
76 63 54 48 43 39 36 34
78 67 57 50 45 41 38 36
80 71 61 53 48 44 40 38
82 75 64 56 51 46 43 40
84 80 68 60 53 49 45 42
86 84 72 63 56 51 47 44
88 89 76 66 59 54 50 46
90 95 80 70 62 57 52 49
92 100 84 73 65 59 55 51
94 106 89 77 69 62 57 53
96 111 93 81 72 65 60 56
98 117 98 85 76 68 63 58
100 124 103 89 79 71 66 61
102 130 108 94 83 75 69 64
104 137 114 98 87 78 72 66
106 144 119 102 91 82 75 69
108 152 125 107 95 85 78 72
110 160 131 112 99 89 81 75
112 168 137 117 103 93 85 78
114 176 143 122 107 96 88 81
116 185 150 127 112 100 92 85
118 194 156 133 116 104 95 88
120 204 163 138 121 109 99 91
17 - 10
TABLE 17.2 (METRIC)(CONTINUED)

BASIC BED LENGTH (m)
ENTRY SPEED
(km/h)
-5 0 5 10 15 20 25
122 213 171 144 126 113 103 95
124 224 178 150 131 117 107 98
126 235 186 156 136 121 110 102
128 246 194 163 141 126 115 106
130 258 202 169 147 131 119 109
132 270 210 176 152 135 123 113
134 283 219 182 158 140 127 117
136 296 228 189 164 145 132 121
138 310 238 197 170 150 136 125
140 325 247 204 176 156 141 129
142 340 257 212 182 161 146 133
144 355 267 219 188 167 150 138
146 372 278 227 195 172 155 142
148 389 289 236 202 178 160 147
150 406 300 244 209 184 165 151
152 425 312 253 216 190 171 156
154 444 324 261 223 196 176 161
156 464 336 270 230 202 182 165
158 484 349 280 238 209 187 170
160 505 362 289 245 215 193 175
162 527 375 299 253 222 199 181
164 550 389 309 261 229 204 186
166 574 403 319 270 236 210 191
168 598 418 329 278 243 217 196
170 623 433 340 287 250 223 202
172 650 448 351 295 258 229 207
174 677 464 362 304 265 236 213
176 705 481 373 314 273 242 219
178 733 497 385 323 281 249 225
180 763 514 397 332 289 256 231
182 794 532 409 342 297 263 237
184 826 550 422 352 306 270 243
186 858 569 434 362 314 277 249
188 892 588 447 373 323 284 255
190 927 607 461 383 332 292 262
17 - 11
TABLE 17.2 (ENGLISH)

BASIC BED LENGTH (ft)
ENTRY SPEED PERCENT GRADE OF BED
(mph) -5 0 5 10 15 20 25
30 73 65 58 53 49 46 43
32 84 74 67 61 56 52 49
34 96 85 76 69 63 59 55
36 110 96 86 78 72 67 62
38 124 108 97 87 80 75 70
40 139 121 108 98 90 83 78
42 156 135 120 109 100 92 86
44 174 150 133 120 110 102 95
46 193 166 147 132 121 112 105
48 213 183 162 145 133 123 115
50 235 202 177 159 145 134 125
52 259 221 194 174 158 146 136
54 284 241 211 189 172 158 148
56 311 263 230 205 186 172 160
58 340 286 249 222 201 185 172
60 371 311 270 240 217 200 185
62 404 337 291 259 234 215 199
64 439 364 314 278 251 230 214
66 476 393 338 299 269 247 229
68 516 423 363 320 288 264 244
70 559 456 389 343 308 281 260
72 605 490 417 366 329 300 277
74 654 525 446 390 350 319 294
76 706 563 476 416 372 339 313
78 762 603 508 443 395 359 331
80 821 645 541 470 419 381 351
82 885 690 576 499 444 403 371
84 954 736 612 529 470 426 392
86 1027 786 650 561 497 450 413
88 1105 837 689 593 525 475 435
90 1189 892 731 627 554 500 458
92 1279 949 774 662 584 526 482
94 1375 1009 819 699 615 554 506
96 1477 1073 866 737 647 582 532
98 1586 1139 915 776 681 611 558
100 1702 1209 966 817 715 641 584
17 - 12
TABLE 17.2 (ENGLISH)(CONTINUED)

BASIC BED LENGTH (ft)
ENTRY SPEED PERCENT GRADE OF BED
(mph) -5 0 5 10 15 20 25
102 1824 1282 1019 859 750 672 612
104 1953 1358 1074 903 787 703 640
106 2088 1438 1131 948 825 736 669
108 2228 1521 1190 995 864 770 699
110 2372 1608 1252 1043 904 805 730
112 2521 1699 1316 1093 945 840 762
114 2671 1792 1382 1145 988 877 794
116 2824 1890 1451 1198 1032 915 828
118 2976 1990 1521 1253 1077 954 862
120 3128 2093 1595 1309 1124 994 897
17 - 13
B. Barrels. Impact attenuator barrels can be used to help decelerate trucks where insufficient space is available
for proper bed length. The following three equations give the change in speed, average deceleration load and time to
travel the 0.9 m (3 ft) through a row of barrels:
Vf = DVe
(Eq. 17-2)
METRIC: g = 0.004 298 8 (D2 - 1)Ve2
t = 6.584 / (D + l)Ve
ENGLISH: g = 0.011134 (D2 - 1)Ve2
t = 4.091 / (D + l)Ve
where:
Vf = Exit speed after barrel row (km/h (mph)).

Ve = Entry speed into barrel row (km/h (mph)).
D = Factor given in Table 17.3.
g = Deceleration, g.
t = Time to travel length of barrels (s).
METRIC EXAMPLE:
Three or more barrels across by four rows deep, would permit an additional reduction of 50 km/h when combined
with the last 4.4 m of the bed for a 36 300 kg vehicle and would cause a 4.7-g load. Otherwise, 21 m of bed without
the barrel barrier would be required to achieve the same results at 0% grade. Because of the larger deceleration
loads at speeds above 70 km/h, a design as given in Figure 17.2 is suggested to reduce the maximum to below 9-g.
This design is good for vehicles traveling as fast as 100 km/h. If speeds are higher, the designer should follow the
procedures given in the next section, on barrel curves, to design the appropriate configuration.
ENGLISH EXAMPLE:
Three or more barrels across by four rows deep, would permit an additional reduction of 30 mph when combined
with the last 14 ft of the bed for a 80,000 lb vehicle and would cause a 4.7-g load. Otherwise, 65 ft of bed without
the barrel barrier would be required to achieve the same results at 0% grade. Because of the larger deceleration
loads at speeds above 45 mph, a design as given in Figure 17.2 is suggested to reduce the maximum to below 9-g.
This design is good for vehicles traveling as fast as 60 mph. If speeds are higher, the designer should follow the
procedures given in the next section, on barrel curves, to design the appropriate configuration.
1. Graphs for Designing the Barrel Array. The equations given in the previous section are presented
graphically in Figure 17.3. This figure presents, in the same manner as that used in the Energite System
manual for the inertial barrier system, the design for a 36 300 kg (80,000 lb) vehicle using 0.64 m3 (22.6 ft3)
barrels filled with river gravel (AASHTO No. 57). Sand should not be used in the barrels since sand would
contaminate the gravel bed. The maximum deceleration forces acceptable for a vehicle's occupants are 12-g.
The figure gives deceleration force levels up to 12-g. However, a deceleration force of 9-g is desirable for
design. To use Figure 17.3, the same procedure is followed as was used to determine the bed length.
A vehicle impacting a three by three barrel array at 50 km/h (30 mph) can be considered as an example. Using
Figure 17.4, the initial impact speed (50 km/h (30 mph)) can be located on the baseline (point 1). A straight
vertical line can be drawn from that point until it intersects the horizontal line for three-barrel rows. The
deceleration (4.7-g) is read here.
From that point, another line can be drawn parallel to the nearest exit speed line down to the baseline (point 2),
which gives an exit speed of 38 km/h (23 mph) from the first row. The procedure is repeated for the second
row, giving a deceleration of 2.6-g and an exit speed of 28 km/h (17 mph) at point 3. Repeating this procedure
for the third row gives 1.5-g and 21 km/h (12 mph) at exit.
17 - 14
TABLE 17.3
D FACTORS FOR BARRELS
VEHICLE MASS
ROW (Vehicle Weight)
820 kg 2040 kg 6580 kg 14 970 kg 18 600 kg 36 300 kg
(1800 lb) (4500 lb) (14,500 lb) (33,000 lb) (41,000 lb) (80,000 lb)
ONE BARREL 0.16 0.33 0.60 0.78 0.82 0.90
TWO BARRELS 0.09 0.20 0.42 0.65 0.69 0.81
THREE BARRELS 0.06 0.14 0.35 0.55 0.60 0.75
17 - 15
For this case, the speed is decreased from 50 km/h to 21 km/h (30 to 12 mph) over 3.0 m (10 ft). Also, from Figure
17.1, 3.0 m (10 ft) of a 0% grade bed will remove 21 km/h (12 mph) from the vehicle speed; i.e., the combination of
three rows of barrels and 3.0 m (10 ft) of bed will remove a total of 50 km/h (30 mph).
In another example (not marked on the figure) of a single row of two barrels with an impact speed of 60 km/h
(40 mph), a 5.3-g deceleration and an exit speed of 49 km/h (33 mph) will be found.
C. Mounds. Mounds, which are depicted by Figure 17.5, are treated in a manner similar to that used for the
barrels, and the same speed change equation is used; however, a different deceleration equation is needed because,
while the average deceleration is calculated in the same manner, the peak is different. Using Equation 17-2, the
equations for mounds were developed and are given below:
Vf = DVe (Eq. 17-3)
METRIC:
1. Full Mound:
gave = 0.001 29 (D2 - 1)Ve2
gpeak = 0.002 34 (D2 - 1)Ve2
t = 21.945 / (D + 1)Ve
2. Half Mound:
gave = 0.002 58 (D2 - 1)Ve2
gpeak = 0.004 29 (D2 - 1)Ve2
t = 10.973 / (D + 1)Ve
ENGLISH:
1. Full Mound:
gave = 0.00334 (D2 - 1)Ve2
gpeak = 0.00607 (D2 - 1)Ve2
t = 13.636 / (D + 1)Ve
2. Half Mound:
gave = 0.00668 (D2 - 1)Ve2
gpeak = 0.01112 (D2 - 1)Ve2
t = 6.818 / (D + 1) Ve
where:
Vf = Exit speed from mound (km/h (mph))

Ve = Entry speed into mound (km/h (mph))
D = Factor given in Table 17.4.
g = Deceleration, g.
t = Time to travel mound(s) (s).
17 - 16
17 - 17
17 - 18
17 - 19
17 - 20
17 - 21
TABLE 17.4
D FACTORS FOR MOUNDS
VEHICLE MASS
MOUND (VEHICLE WEIGHT)
TYPE 820 kg 2040 kg 6580 kg 14 970 kg 18 600 kg 36 300 kg
(1800 lb) (4500 lb) (14,500 lb) (33,000 lb) (41,000 lb) (80,000 lb)
FULL 0.13 0.28 0.55 0.74 0.78 0.87
HALF 0.23 0.43 0.71 0.85 0.87 0.93
Tests have shown that mounds should not be placed nearer than 30 m (100 ft) into the bed. When a truck is
still riding on top of the bed, it will ride up over the mound, giving high vertical acceleration. In the case of the
full-sized mound, the truck can become airborne; however, once the truck sinks into the bed, it generally plows
through the mounds.
Mound usage should be avoided, if possible. If they are used, however, they should be placed in the bed such
that they will be hit at slow speeds, 40 km/h (25 mph) and less. Although barrels are more expensive than
mounds, barrels are recommended.
3. Graphs for Designing Mounds. In the same manner used for the barrel designs, given previously, Figure
17.6 is used in the design of mounds. Figure 17.5 shows the cross sections for a full and a half mound. An
example is shown in Figure 17.7 for a 36 300 kg (80,000 lb) vehicle traveling 70 km/h (45 mph) into a full
mound. It has a peak deceleration of 2.8-g and exits at 61 km/h (38 mph). Although a deceleration force of
2.8-g is acceptable for the driver, the larger forces are on only the first (front) axle, and for a 36 300 kg
(80,000 lb) vehicle, this deceleration gives a force of approximately 1020 kN (240,000 lb).
D. Design with Combination Bed, Mounds and Barrels. A bed design in combination with mounds or barrels
or both requires the use of Figures 17.3, 17.6 and 17.8. Figure 17.8 is a replot of Figure 17.1 with the x and y axes
interchanged. This figure can be used to illustrate the design; an example is shown for the 0% grade.
METRIC EXAMPLE: Suppose a bed is proposed to stop a 36 300 kg vehicle traveling at 100 km/h on a 0% grade.
Consider a mound placed at 30 m and three rows of barrels at the end. For this example, Figures 17.9, 17.10 and
17.11 are used. First, from Figure 17.10, if the speed is reduced to 50 km/h when the barrels are reached, the exit
speed due to the barrels alone is 21 km/h. Since the barrels are 2.7 m long, the 0% curve of Figure 17.11 shows that
the remaining 21 km/h will be eliminated by the bed while traveling the 2.7 m. Thus, enough length of the bed plus
the mound will be needed to get the speed down to 50 km/h.
Using Figure 17.11, a horizontal line should be drawn from the 100 km/h point until the 0% grade line has been
intersected. The 0% grade line is then followed for 30 m from 103 m to 73 m, at which point the full mound has
been reached. A horizontal line is then drawn to find that the speed is 86 km/h. Using Figure 17.9, an entrance
speed of 86 km/h gives an exit speed of 75 km/h. When Figure 17.11 is re-entered at 75 km/h, the 0% curve is
followed to 50 km/h, which is the speed reduction previously found for the three rows of barrels. Thus, the first
30 m of the bed (see Figure 17.11) plus 32 m (from 53 m down to 21 m) plus the 2 m at the end adds up to require a
bed of 64 m.
ENGLISH EXAMPLE: Suppose a bed is proposed to stop a 80,000 lb vehicle traveling at 60 mph on a 0% grade.
Consider a mound placed at 100 ft and three rows of barrels at the end. For this example, Figures 17.9, 17.10, and
17.11 are used. First, from Figure 17.10, if the speed is reduced to 30 mph when the barrels are reached, the exit
speed due to the barrels alone is 12 mph. Since the barrels are 9 ft long, the 0% curve of Figure 17.11 shows that the
remaining 12 mph will be eliminated by the bed while traveling the 9 ft. Thus, enough length of the bed plus the
mound will be needed to get the speed down to 30 mph.
17 - 22
17 - 23
17 - 24
17 - 25
17 - 26
Using Figure 17.11, a horizontal line should be drawn from the 60 mph point until the 0% grade line has been
intersected. The 0% grade line is then followed for 100 ft from 311 ft to 211 ft, at which point the full mound has
been reached. A horizontal line is then drawn to find that the speed is 51 mph. Using Figure 17.9, an entrance
speed of 51 mph gives an exit speed of 45 mph. When Figure 17.11 is re-entered at 45 mph, the 0% curve is
followed to 30 mph, which is the speed reduction previously found for the three rows of barrels. Thus, the first
100 ft of the bed (see Figure 17.11) plus 105 ft (from 158 ft down to 65 ft) plus the 5 ft at the end adds up to require
a bed of 198 ft.
When space permits, the bed length should be designed as required for the entry speed without regard to reduction in
distance due to barrels or mounds. The barrels in this case would be provided as an added safety benefit at the end
of the ramp.
E. Bed Design. The method for designing the length of an arrester bed was addressed in the previous section,
along with the need to consider the grade of the bed and the use of barrels and of gravel mounds in the overall bed
design. Other characteristics of the bed which must be considered for an effective design are the depth and width of
the bed and drainage features. Also essential to the overall arrester bed operation is the installation of a concrete
anchor block 15 to 30 m (50 to 100 ft) in front of the bed to act as a dead man for the tow vehicle used for truck
extraction.
1. Bed Depth. A minimum of 1070 mm (42 in) is the recommended depth for beds of river gravel. Testing
has shown that a bed with 915 mm (36 in) of river gravel gives the same results as a bed as deep as 2440 mm
(8 ft). The minimum recommended depth includes 150 mm (6 in) to allow for compaction when the gravel
contains many fines, especially if the bed is located where the potential for heavy use is great. Frequent use
results in the significant increase in fines content, which decreases the effectiveness of the bed.
Smooth, rounded, uncrushed gravel of approximately a single size is the most effective arrester bed material.
The best size is approximately 13 mm (0.5 in) in diameter.
The river gravel graded to AASHTO No. 57 was found to be the best of those materials tested if it had been
washed so that fines were removed. A greater percentage of larger or smaller stones decreased the
effectiveness and increased planning. Crushed stone should not be used because it provides a drag factor of
about half that of rounded gravel and compacts more quickly. To be effective, crushed aggregate would
require longer beds and fluffing almost weekly.
Rounded river gravel produces higher decelerations than the more angular crushed aggregate because the truck
sinks into the river gravel more, transferring more energy to the stones over a shorter distance.
2. Bed Width. In general, a width of 6.6 to 7.5 m (22 to 25 ft) is recommended on the basis of an entry
design which has a horizontal straightaway of at least one truck length, directing the vehicle in a straight line
through the center of the bed. If the top of the bed is at ground level, a minimum width of 6.6 m (22 ft) would
be sufficient. Conversely, if either side of the bed is a drop-off of any height, the bed should be wider. The
vehicle's direction of momentum as it enters the bed is the direction it will travel through the bed; this direction
should be the bed center line.
3. Bed Drainage. Proper drainage so that water does not stand in the bed is important. A 305 mm (12 in)
base layer of large (at least 75 mm (3 in) in diameter) crushed limestone aggregate (AASHTO No. 1) will
effectively drain the arrester bed. The stones should be confined to the layer by covering them with geotextile
material (Type 3) to separate the larger stones from the river gravel. The cross slope of the base should be
toward one side, with either subgrade drains or a crown for removing any water from the arrester layer. The
river gravel covering this sloping base layer should have no cross slope at the top surface; i.e., the bed should
be filled such that the top surface has no cross slope.
F. Incidental Items.
1. Service Road. A service road located adjacent to the arrester bed is recommended so the tow and
maintenance vehicles can use it without becoming trapped in the bedding material. The typical width of this
road is 3.0 m (10 ft).
17 - 27
17 - 28
17 - 29
17 - 30
17 - 31
17 - 32
17 - 33
17 - 34
17 - 35
2. Concrete Anchor Block. Every escape ramp must include a concrete anchor block to which a tow vehicle
can attach when it pulls an arrested vehicle from the gravel bed. The anchor provides a necessary dead man
which can withstand the retraction loads required to pull an arrested vehicle from the ramp bed. Retraction
loads range from 25-100% of the gross vehicle mass (weight) and are generally about 50%. Thus, for example,
a load of more than 18 140 kg (40,000 lb) may be required to extract a loaded tractor trailer. During some
tests, towing service personnel who did not believe the anchor would be necessary found that the tow truck,
rather than the captured vehicle, was moved during extraction attempts. In one such case, the paved approach
was damaged. Thus, it is recommended that every escape ramp include an anchor block such as that shown in
Figure 17.12, and should be located at the center and flush with the road surface 15 to 30 m (50 to 100 ft) from
the start of the bed. Additional blocks may be needed, depending on the length of the escape ramp. Towing
services should be required to use the anchor block.
3. Gravel Fluffer. To preserve its original density, the gravel bed should be fluffed by a device capable of
breaking up the compacted areas. A typical mechanical device is shown on Figure 17.13. This device,
designed by PTI, consists of a sled with prongs that extend down into the gravel bed. As the sled is pulled
through the bed, its prongs break up the compacted areas. One important element of a fluffer is adequate mass
(weight) to break up the compacted area at the required depth.
4. Extraction. Extraction should be performed with a wrecker and a winch. The front of the wrecker must
be chained to a dead man anchor block, and the winch must be used with a block and tackle that has at least a
two to one mechanical advantage.
After the vehicle being extracted from the bed begins to move, it can be raised onto 50 mm × 150 mm
(2 in × 6 in) boards to greatly reduce the drawbar pull required to remove the vehicle from the bed and,
correspondingly, the pull loads on the vehicle and its axles. At least two boards per wheel set should be used
so that, as a wheel rolls off one board, it will roll onto the next board. As the wheel then rolls clear of the first
board, that board can be placed in front of the second board, which can then be moved in front of the first
board, and so on, in a leapfrog fashion.
When the captured vehicle has wheel flaps, an important note of caution must be heeded. Flaps must be
removed or tied such that they will not wrap around the wheel between the stones and the tire. Only a turning
wheel will ride up onto the aggregate rather than dig into them, and a barrier between the stones and tire will
prevent the wheel from turning. Consequently, when the wheel flaps provide such a barrier, the wheel
generally digs deeper into the stones, thus creating a need for greater force to pull the vehicle.
G. Maintenance. All of the beds were found to compact with time depending on the durability of the stone.
During the design phase, consideration should be given to access by maintenance vehicles to fluff and maintain
escape ramps in good operating condition. For maintenance details and requirements, refer to the Maintenance
Manual.
17 - 36
1219
SECTION B-B 279
2 Lids - 610 x 914 x 19 267 559
Steel Plates Opening 254
51 Diameter 102
203 51 19 83
51 38
A
B
76
B 203 610 203 610 203

51 51 51 51
279 279
38 PVC Pipe
A Outlet Thru
Embankment
1219
254
2 No. 43 Bars at 3048

305 Bend on Bars 305
SECTION A-A 1829
Note: All Dimensions are in Millimeters (mm) Except as Noted.
FIGURE 17.12 (METRIC)

Design of a Concrete Anchor Block Dead Man
17 - 37
4'
SECTION B-B 11"
2 Lids - 2' x 3' x 0.75" 10.5" 1'-10"
Steel Plates Opening 10"
2" Diameter 4" 0.75"
8" 2" 3.25"
2" 1.50"
A
B
3"
B 8" 2' 8" 2' 8"

2" 2" 2" 2"
11" 11"
1.5" PVC Pipe

A Outlet Thru
Embankment
4'
10"
2 No. 12 Bars at 10'

1' Bend on Bars 1'
SECTION A-A 6'
FIGURE 17.12 (ENGLISH)

Design of a Concrete Anchor Block Dead Man
17 - 38
17 - 39
BLANK PAGE
17 - 40

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Chapter 17 - Emergency Escape Ramps Publication 13M (DM-2)

17.1 DYNAMICS OF A VEHICLE

17.2 NEED AND LOCATION

17.3 TYPES OF EMERGENCY ESCAPE RAMPS

17.4 ELEMENTS OF DESIGN

L = A + BV + CV2 + DV3 (Eq. 17-1)

0% grade 10% grade

0% grade 10% grade

TABLE 17.1 (METRIC)

101 TO 140 km/h

TABLE 17.1 (ENGLISH)

B 4.13 0.16944534 1.39562086 0.62431019 -0.05600296 -0.21110752 -1.60118449

C -0.051 0.04329616 0.01592913 0.03164279 0.04807917 0.04769312 0.07884436

D 0.00165 0.00065202 0.00067035 0.00043730 0.00020949 0.00016497 -0.00012045

B 45.53989258 14.49087202 4.19421811 3.8908948 4.41882161 0.93742345 0.49591149

C -0.70598725 -0.19635557 -0.02899535 -0.01748326 -0.02055797 0.02526466 0.03336147

D 0.00512399 0.00200734 0.00090754 0.00068014 0.00057884 0.00030885 0.00021004

TABLE 17.2 (METRIC)

TABLE 17.2 (METRIC)(CONTINUED)

TABLE 17.2 (ENGLISH)

TABLE 17.2 (ENGLISH)(CONTINUED)

ENGLISH: g = 0.011134 (D2 - 1)Ve2

Vf = Exit speed after barrel row (km/h (mph)).

Vf = DVe (Eq. 17-3)

gave = 0.001 29 (D2 - 1)Ve2

gpeak = 0.002 34 (D2 - 1)Ve2

gave = 0.002 58 (D2 - 1)Ve2

gpeak = 0.004 29 (D2 - 1)Ve2

gave = 0.00334 (D2 - 1)Ve2

gpeak = 0.00607 (D2 - 1)Ve2

gave = 0.00668 (D2 - 1)Ve2

gpeak = 0.01112 (D2 - 1)Ve2

Vf = Exit speed from mound (km/h (mph))

B 203 610 203 610 203

2 No. 43 Bars at 3048

SECTION A-A 1829

Note: All Dimensions are in Millimeters (mm) Except as Noted.

FIGURE 17.12 (METRIC)

B 8" 2' 8" 2' 8"

1.5" PVC Pipe

2 No. 12 Bars at 10'

SECTION A-A 6'

FIGURE 17.12 (ENGLISH)

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