Development of Hybrid Energy-Absorbing Reusable Terminal for Roadside Safety Applications

Author(s):  
Nauman M. Sheikh ◽  
Dean C. Alberson ◽  
D. Lance Bullard

The hybrid energy-absorbing reusable terminal (HEART) is a newly developed crash cushion or end terminal to be used in highway safety applications to mitigate injuries to occupants of errant vehicles. HEART is composed of corrugated plates of high–molecular weight, high-density polyethylene (HMW-HDPE) supported on steel diaphragms that slide on a fixed rail. Kinetic energy from errant vehicles is converted to other energy forms through folding and deformation of the HMW-HDPE material. Many previous designs utilized plastic or permanent deformation of plastics or steels to accomplish this goal. However, HEART is a combination of plastic and steel that forms a largely self-restoring and largely reusable crash cushion. Consequently, HEART has a major life-cycle cost advantage over conventional crash cushion designs. HEART was developed through extensive use of finite element analysis with LS-DYNA. The simulation approach adopted for the development of HEART, construction details, and a description and results of crash tests performed so far to evaluate its performance are presented. Also discussed is some of the follow-up work currently under way for approval of HEART by FHWA as an acceptable crash cushion for use on the National Highway System.

Author(s):  
John D. Reid ◽  
Ronald K. Faller ◽  
Jim C. Holloway ◽  
John R. Rohde ◽  
Dean L. Sicking

For many years, containment for errant racing vehicles traveling on oval speedways has been provided through rigid, concrete containment walls placed around the exterior of the track. However, accident experience has shown that serious injuries and fatalities may occur through vehicular impacts into these nondeformable barriers. Because of these injuries, the Indy Racing League and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, later joined by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), sponsored the development of a new barrier system by the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to improve the safety of drivers participating in automobile racing events. Several barrier prototypes were investigated and evaluated using both static and dynamic component testing, computer simulation modeling with LS-DYNA (a nonlinear finite element analysis code), and 20 full-scale vehicle crash tests. The full-scale crash testing program included bogie vehicles, small cars, and a full-size sedan, as well as Indy Racing League open-wheeled cars and NASCAR Winston Cup cars. A combination steel tube skin and foam energy-absorbing barrier system, referred to as the SAFER (steel and foam energy reduction) barrier, was successfully developed. Subsequently, the SAFER barrier was installed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in advance of the running of the 2002 Indianapolis 500 race. From the results of the laboratory testing program as well as analysis of the accidents into the SAFER barrier occurring during practice, qualification, and the race, the SAFER barrier has been shown to provide improved safety for drivers impacting the outer walls.


2008 ◽  
Vol 385-387 ◽  
pp. 685-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Sung Kim ◽  
Hoon Huh ◽  
Won Mog Choi ◽  
Tae Soo Kwon

This paper demonstrates the jig set for the crash test and the crash test results of the tension bolts with respect to an applied pre-tension. The tension and shear bolts are adopted at Light Collision Safety Devices as a mechanical fuse when tension bolts reach designed failure load. The kinetic energy due to the crash is absorbed by secondary energy absorbing devices after the fracture of tension bolts. One tension bolt was designed to be failed at the load of 375 kN. The jig set was designed to convert a compressive loading to a tensile loading and installed at the high speed crash tester. The strain gauges were attached at the parallel section of the tension bolts to measure the level of the pre-tension acting on the tension bolts. Crash tests were performed with a barrier whose mass was 250 kg and initial speed of the barrier was 9.5 m/sec. The result includes the load response of the tension bolts during both the crash tests and finite element analysis.


Author(s):  
Robert W. Bielenberg ◽  
Dean L. Sicking ◽  
John R. Rohde ◽  
John D. Reid

The Midwest guardrail system (MGS), developed at the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility, was designed to improve the performance of traditional strong-post, W-beam guardrail systems. These improvements include decreasing the potential for rollover with high center-of-gravity vehicles, decreasing the potential for rail rupture at the splice locations, and decreasing the sensitivity of the system to the installation rail height. However, safe guardrail termination options for the MGS must be developed before the system can be implemented on the roadside. Two end terminal designs, the sequential kinking terminal (SKT) and the flared energy-absorbing terminal (FLEAT), were partially redesigned and crash tested in conjunction with the MGS according to NCHRP Report 350 criteria. The new versions of the terminals were named the SKT-MGS and the FLEAT-MGS to designate them for use with the MGS. To evaluate the performance of the terminals with the MGS, a series of four full-scale crash tests was conducted: two redirection tests, NCHRP Report 350 Test Designations 3–34 and 3–35, and two head-on impacts, Test Designations 3–30 and 3–31. The results from the four crash tests were found to meet all relevant safety requirements. The SKT-MGS and FLEAT-MGS end terminals are the first successfully tested end terminals for use with the MGS.


1998 ◽  
Vol 1647 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian G. Pfeifer ◽  
Dean L. Sicking

An energy-absorbing guardrail terminal was developed at the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility in 1994 that met the safety criteria set forth in NCHRP Report 230. This terminal, known as the beam-eating steel terminal, or BEST, relies on the cutting of steel W-beams to absorb the energy of impacting vehicles. Since that time, a new set of safety standards has been developed to replace those set forth in NCHRP Report 230. These new criteria are published in NCHRP Report 350, with the most significant change being the replacement of the 2041-kg (4,500-lb) sedan test vehicle with a 2000-kg (0.75-ton) pickup. To ensure that the BEST system would perform well under these new, and more stringent, criteria, the system was subjected to the matrix of full-scale vehicle crash tests required by NCHRP Report 350. Several design changes were made to the terminal system during this development to improve the performance of the system. The results of this successful program are reported.


Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 881
Author(s):  
Adrian Dubicki ◽  
Izabela Zglobicka ◽  
Krzysztof J. Kurzydłowski

Numerous engineering applications require lightweight structures with excellent absorption capacity. The problem of obtaining such structures may be solved by nature and especially biological structures with such properties. The paper concerns an attempt to develop a new energy-absorbing material using a biomimetic approach. The lightweight structure investigated here is mimicking geometry of diatom shells, which are known to be optimized by nature in terms of the resistance to mechanical loading. The structures mimicking frustule of diatoms, retaining the similarity with the natural shell, were 3D printed and subjected to compression tests. As required, the bio-inspired structure deformed continuously with the increase in deformation force. Finite element analysis (FEA) was carried out to gain insight into the mechanism of damage of the samples mimicking diatoms shells. The experimental results showed a good agreement with the numerical results. The results are discussed in the context of further investigations which need to be conducted as well as possible applications in the energy absorbing structures.


2016 ◽  
Vol 687 ◽  
pp. 236-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Lacki ◽  
Judyta Różycka ◽  
Marcin Rogoziński

This requires the use of additional reinforcement in order to prevent excessive or permanent deformation of PVC windows. In the paper particular attention was devoted to space located in a corrosive environment exposed to chemical agents. For this purpose, proposed to change the previously used steel profiles reinforcements made of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy corrosion-resistant in the air, at sea and many types of industrial atmosphere. Analysis of the thermal insulation properties of PVC windows with additional reinforcement of profile Ti6Al4V titanium alloy was performed. PVC window set in a layer of thermal insulation was analyzed. Research was conducted using Finite Element Analysis. Numerical models and thermal calculations were made in the program ADINA, assuming appropriate material parameters. The constant internal temperature of 20 ̊ and an outer-20 ̊ was assumed. The course of temperature distribution in baffle in time 24 hours and graphs of characteristic points was obtained. The time of in which followed the steady flow of heat, as well as the course of isotherm of characteristic temperature in the baffle was determined. On the basis of numerical analysis obtained vector distribution of heat flux q [W/m2] and was determined heat transfer coefficients U [W/m2K] for the whole window with titanium reinforcement . All results were compared with the model of PVC windows reinforced with steel profile.


2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (7) ◽  
pp. 824-833 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sangyum Lee ◽  
Cheolmin Baek ◽  
Je-Jin Park

This paper presents the performance evaluation of unmodified and lime-modified hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures at varying asphalt content using asphalt mixture performance test developed from National Cooperative Highway Research Program project 9-19 and 9-29 and the viscoelastic continuum damage finite element analysis. Test methods adopted in this study are the dynamic modulus test for stiffness, the triaxial repeated load permanent deformation test for rutting, and the direct tension test for fatigue cracking. The findings from this study support conventional understanding of the effects of asphalt content and lime modification on the fatigue cracking and rutting performance. Finally, the optimum asphalt content for both lime-modified and unmodified mixtures are proposed based on the knowledge gleaned from the performance-based mix design methodology. With additional validation and calibration, the comprehensive methodology described in this paper may serve as the foundation for a performance-based HMA mix design and performance-related HMA specifications.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Medardo Alexander Arenas-Chavarria ◽  
Samuel David Giraldo-Gómez ◽  
Federico Latorre-Correa ◽  
Junes Abdul Villarraga-Ossa

Aim: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the behavior of the system locator settings associated with distal extension removable partial denture lower (PPR) by finite element analysis (FEA). Materials and Methods: A Class II Kennedy 3D model using a CAD software Solid Works 2010 (SolidWorks Corp., Concord, MA, USA), and subsequently processed and analyzed by ANSYS Software version Model 14. One (1) was designed implant Tapered Screw -Vent® (ref TSVB10 Zimmer Dental-Carlsbad,CA,USA.) length x 10mm diameter 3.7mm with a 3.5mm platform, internal hexagon with its respective screw fixation; this was located at the tooth 37 as a rear pillar of a PPR, whose major connector was a lingual bar casting (alloy cobalt chromium), based combined (metal/ acrylic) with teeth to replace (37, 36 and 35). Efforts were evaluated von Mises in a 400N load. This analysis allowed assessing the performance of various prosthetic structures modeled and generated effects on bone-implant interface. Results: Differences between the values von Mises in all structures and loads were observed before there was no permanent deformation in any of them. Structures such as bone showed in normal values microstrain. Conclusions: The behavior of the PPRimplant connection, showed a favorable distribution efforts by using a PPR, subjecting it to load in the vertical direction.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document