Barrier cable is a vehicular or pedestrian restraint system used in
parking garage
A multistorey car park (Commonwealth English) or parking garage (American English), also called a multistorey, parking building, parking structure, parkade (Canadian), parking ramp, parking deck, or indoor parking, is a building designed fo ...
s. It installed along the ramps or around the perimeter of the parking structure. It consists of a 0.5-inch, 7-wire steel strand which is similar to the strand used in
Post-tensioned concrete.
Types
There are three types of barrier cables systems:
Galvanized
Galvanized
Galvanization ( also spelled galvanisation) is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, to prevent rusting. The most common method is hot-dip galvanizing, in which the parts are coated by submerging them in a bath o ...
barrier cable is the most prevalent type of barrier cable used today. The steel strand is
Zinc plated
Galvanization ( also spelled galvanisation) is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, to prevent rusting. The most common method is hot-dip galvanizing, in which the parts are coated by submerging them in a bath of ...
to protect it from corrosion per ASTM A475.
Epoxy-Coated
Epoxy
Epoxy is the family of basic components or Curing (chemistry), cured end products of epoxy Resin, resins. Epoxy resins, also known as polyepoxides, are a class of reactive prepolymers and polymers which contain epoxide groups. The epoxide fun ...
-coated barrier cable is used on occasion for aesthetic purposes. It is significantly more expensive than galvanized barrier cable.
Plastic-Coated
Plastic
Plastics are a wide range of synthetic polymers, synthetic or Semisynthesis, semisynthetic materials composed primarily of Polymer, polymers. Their defining characteristic, Plasticity (physics), plasticity, allows them to be Injection moulding ...
-Coated is similar to the steel tendon used in
Unbonded post-tensioned concrete. The only difference is that plastic-coated barrier cable does not have a layer of Post Tension coating ("grease") between the
extruded
Extrusion is a process used to create objects of a fixed cross-sectional profile by pushing material through a die of the desired cross-section. Its two main advantages over other manufacturing processes are its ability to create very complex ...
HDPE
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyethylene high-density (PEHD) is a thermoplastic polymer produced from the monomer ethylene. It is sometimes called "alkathene" or " polythene" when used for HDPE pipes. With a high strength-to-density ratio ...
plastic sheathing and the steel strand.
Anchorage
Depending on parking structure, the barrier cable is installed in rows of several cables.
There are several anchorage and attachment systems to concrete or steel columns.
Specification
The design and installation of the barrier cable system is referenced in the
Post-Tensioning Institute
The Post-Tensioning Institute (PTI) is an American nonprofit organization committed to advancing the quality, safety, efficiency, profitability, and use of post-tensioning systems. PTI's manuals and technical guides are designed to provide guidanc ...
's ''Specification for Seven-Wire Steel Strand Barrier Cable Application''s.
Benefits
7-wire Barrier Cable has a high strength-to-weight ratio of the strands and the cables cost less to place than precast panels, traditional cast-in-place or concrete masonry barriers.
Post-Tensioning Products & Systems
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References
External links
The Post-Tensioning Institute
- An international technical institute dedicated to post-tensioned concrete representing a community of professionals and businesses
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrier Cable
Concrete
Building materials
Structural engineering