The main components of the steel cable guardrail, including basic strength, toughness, cable diameter, lay distance, and corrosion resistance, all have high requirements. Referring to Japanese and American standards, and ensuring that they are not below international standards, combined with the trial production of anchor equipment, provisions for allowable deviations in cable diameter and single fiber ellipticity have been added, which play a crucial role in ensuring cable quality and stabilizing the anchoring performance of the cables. The cable development was approved and listed in the 1989 Major New Product Pilot Production Plan, and passed the provincial assessment in July 1991. In hundreds of cable collision accidents, there were very few instances of cable breakage, indicating the success of our cable development.
Anchors are critical components of cable guardrails. Both Japan and the U.S. employ hot-cast anchoring and segmented wedge anchors, both requiring specialized installation designs. Considering the ease of installation and the urgency of the project timeline, we decided to develop a stranded wedge anchor anchoring device. The cable anchoring differs from steel wire rope anchoring. The zinc-plated stranded cable (three-strand twisted) for the wedge anchors is a first in both domestic and international markets. After numerous trials, we finally achieved success and obtained a patent. During installation, it is extremely convenient and does not require tools. This anchor has rarely experienced slippage due to collisions over a 5-year period. Based on this anchor, we have also developed a rope connector, further reducing the cost of cable guardrails.