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 and purchase options for this article.
References
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Michie J. D. NCHRP Report 230: Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Highway Appurtenances. TRB, National Research Council, Washington, D.C., 1981.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Loumiet J., Graham J. L., and Migletz J. 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 G., and Moebes T. 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 D. 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.
Cite article
Cite article
Cite article
OR
Download to reference manager
If you have citation software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice
Information, rights and permissions
Information
Published In
Article first published: January 1999
Issue published: January 1999
Authors
Metrics and citations
Metrics
Journals metrics
This article was published in Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board.
VIEW ALL JOURNAL METRICSArticle usage*
Total views and downloads: 12
*Article usage tracking started in December 2016
Altmetric
See the impact this article is making through the number of times it’s been read, and the Altmetric Score.
Learn more about the Altmetric Scores
Articles citing this one
Receive email alerts when this article is cited
Web of Science: 0
Crossref: 0
There are no citing articles to show.
Figures and tables
Figures & Media
Tables
View Options
Get access
Access options
If you have access to journal content via a personal subscription, university, library, employer or society, select from the options below:
loading institutional access options
Alternatively, view purchase options below:
Purchase 24 hour online access to view and download content.
Access journal content via a DeepDyve subscription or find out more about this option.
