Author Identifier (ORCID)
Navid Hashemi Taba: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7138-8722
Ahdieh Sadat Khatavakhotan: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6428-0787
Majid Tolouei-Rad: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9920-0808
Abstract
Movable guardrail systems are increasingly used in work zones, reversible lanes, and temporary traffic operations; however, evidence on their crashworthiness, material performance, and operational reliability remains dispersed across multiple design typologies and regulatory frameworks. This PRISMA-compliant systematic review synthesizes 78 studies involving full-scale crash tests, validated finite-element simulations, field performance evaluations, and compliance evaluations under MASH, EN 1317, NCHRP 350, and AS/NZS 3845.1. The findings indicate that modular rigid barriers reliably achieve TL-3/TL-4 performance when joint alignment and foundation conditions are properly controlled; semi-rigid steel systems provide a practical balance between containment capacity and redeployability, but remain sensitive to post spacing and connector detailing; and flexible polymer systems are best suited for short-duration, low-speed applications. Material-focused research highlights the advantages of UHPC section refinement, high-strength steels, and hybrid FRP–metal configurations in enhancing energy absorption without exceeding occupant-risk thresholds. Across studies, connection integrity consistently emerges as the dominant factor governing redirection stability and working-width performance. Field evaluations confirm satisfactory operational performance in constrained environments, while life-cycle assessments identify refurbishment intervals and mass-related logistics as major cost contributors. This review provides an integrated, evidence-based synthesis and a structured engineering foundation for advancing next-generation movable barrier designs, testing protocols, and deployment strategies.
Keywords
Connection integrity, crashworthiness, EN 1317, finite element analysis, impact dynamics, MASH, modular barriers, movable guardrail systems, working width performance
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
3-1-2026
Volume
14
Issue
3
Publication Title
Machines
Publisher
MDPI
School
School of Engineering / School of Business and Law
RAS ID
93459
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Taba, N. H., Khatavakhotan, A. S., & Tolouei-Rad, M. (2026). Design, testing, and safety performance of movable guardrail systems: A PRISMA-based systematic review. Machines, 14(3), 306. https://doi.org/10.3390/machines14030306