Two-Dimensional Modeling of Collision Dynamics of Deflecting Concrete Barriers

Abstract

Freestanding concrete highway barriers were originally implemented for work-zone applications. These barriers are becoming more widespread in their use and have been implemented in some innovative counter-flow applications. As the amount of freestanding barriers increases, so does the demand for detailed operational performance data. However, investigations of their crash protection and operation have been limited compared with those for the more common post-and-beam guardrail configurations. Computer simulation is one method for evaluating the performance of freestanding concrete barriers during vehicle collisions. A two-dimensional model of vehicle and barrier dynamics was developed to investigate the concrete barrier systems used by the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Highways. The simulation program was developed by using a multibody formulation for the barrier segments. A description of the model formulation is presented with a comparison of model output of recorded crash test data.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Hahn

K. C.

, and Bryden

J. E.

. Crash Tests of Construction-Zone Traffic Barriers. In Transportation Research Record 769, TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1980, pp. 12–20.

Glauz

D. L.

Performance Evaluation of a Movable Concrete Barrier. In Transportation Research Record 1258, TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C. 1990, pp. 92–106.

Fortuniewicz

J. S.

, Bryden

J. E.

, and Phillips

R. G.

. Crash Tests of Portable Concrete Median Barrier for Maintenance Zones. In Transportation Research Record 942, TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1983, pp. 31–36.

Beason

W. L.

, and Ivey

D. L.

. Structural Performance Levels of Portable Concrete Barriers. In Transportation Research Record 1024, TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1985, pp. 51–59.

Ross

H. E.

, Sicking

D. L.

, Zimmer

R. A.

, and Michie

J. D.

. NCHRP Report 350: Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Features. TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C. 1993.

Michie

J. D.

NCHRP Report 230: Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Appurtenances. TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1981.

Bronstad

M. E.

, and Michie

J. D.

. NCHRP Report 153: Recommended Procedures for Vehicle Crash Testing of Highway Appurtenances. TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1974.

Ivey

D. L.

, Ross

H. E.

Jr. , Hirsch

T. J.

, Buth

C. E.

, and Olson

R. M.

. Portable Concrete Median Barriers: Structural Design and Dynamic Performance. In Transportation Research Record 769, TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1980, pp. 20–30.

Loumiet

, Graham

J. L.

, and Migletz

. Static Analysis of Portable Concrete Barrier Connectors. Presented at 67th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 1988.

10.

Walker

K. C.

, and Ross

H. E.

Jr. Documentation of Concrete Median Barrier Advanced Dynamic Analysis. In Barriers in Construction Zones, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C., 1985.

11.

Roadside Design Guide. AASHTO, Washington, D.C., Jan. 1996.

12.

Bigg

, and Moebes

. A Study of Vehicle Stiffness Properties from Damage Data. Trantech Corporation, Redmond, Wash., 1994.

13.

Fonda

A. G.

Physical Models for Crush Energy Evaluation in Oblique Impact. Proc., Canadian Multidisciplinary Road Safety Conference VII, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 1991.

14.

Thomson

R. W.

Performance of Concrete Highway Barriers. Ph.D. thesis. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 1996.

15.

Wittenburg

J. L.

Dynamics of Systems of Rigid Bodies. B.G., Stuttgart, Germany, 1977.

16.

Perera

H. S.

Simulation of Vehicle Impacts into Concrete Safety Shaped Barriers. Ph.D. thesis. Texas A&M University, College Station, 1985.

17.

Prasad

A. K.

CRASH3 Damage Algorithm Reformulation for Front and Rear Collisions. Technical Paper Series 900098. SAE, Warrendale, Pa., 1990.

18.

Prasad

A. K.

Energy Absorbed by Vehicle Structures in Side Impacts Technical Paper Series 910599. SAE, Warrendale, Pa., 1991.

19.

Labra

J. J.

, Calcote

L. R.

, and Bronstad

M. E.

. Investigation of Canadian Concrete Guardwall Performance. Southwest Research Institute Report 03-4685-209. Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Tex., 1977.

20.

Segal

Highway-Vehicle-Object Simulation Model—1976 Engineering Manual—Analysis. FHWA-RD-76-164. FHWA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C., Dec. 1975.

21.

Garrott

W. R.

Measured Vehicle Inertial Parameters—NHTSA’s Data Through Sept. 1992. Technical Paper Series 930897. SAE, Warrendale, Pa., 1993.