DOI

10.5703/1288284314982

Abstract

Portable Concrete Barriers (PCBs) are used to redirect errant vehicles to keep them passing to opposing lanes and to ensure safety of the people and any objects behind the barriers. In the state of Indiana, increments to the PCBs, such as L-Shape steel plates, have been applied to enhance the safety performance of these barriers. In this study, Finite Element (FE) analyses are performed to evaluate the safety performance of PCBs with and without the increments and get thorough information about the increments applied. A full-scale crash test (INDOT, 2001) was executed for an impact to the PCBs with a 2000 kg pickup truck at an angle of 25 degrees and an initial velocity of around 100 km/hr in accordance with National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 350 guidelines for Test Level 3 safety performance. Aforementioned full-scale crash test data are used to validate the FE model constructed. Roadside Safety Verification and Validation Program (RSVVP) was used to compare the crash test and FE model results quantitatively. Validating the results of the initial FE Model leaded the way in confidence to implement the increments in the following FE Models.

Report Number

FHWA/IN/JTRP-2012/21

Keywords

Concrete barriers, vehicle impact analysis, LS-Dyna

SPR Number

3406

Performing Organization

Joint Transportation Research Program

Publisher Place

West Lafayette, Indiana

Date of this Version

12-2012

Technical Summary.pdf (536 kB)
Technical Summary

Appendix A.pdf (3990 kB)
Appendix A

Appendix B.pdf (635 kB)
Appendix B

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