Development of Reusable High-Molecular-Weight–High-Density Polyethylene Crash Cushions

Abstract

The development of a family of low-maintenance, reusable crash cushions that employ energy dissipaters made of high-molecular-weight–high-density polyethylene is described. This “smart” energy dissipating thermoplastic is self-restorative and reusable and possesses excellent hysteresis characteristics. The design process involved quasi-static and impact scale model experiments, finite-element modeling, and a full-scale crash testing program conducted according to the guidelines of NCHRP Report 350. A treatment of all of these design components is presented. It is demonstrated that scale model experiments and finite-element modeling are cost-effective tools whose employment can minimize the number of costly full-scale crash tests required to qualify devices as acceptable for use on the National Highway System.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

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.

Carney

J. F.

III Development of Maintenance-Free Highway Safety Appurtenances. Washington State Department of Transportation Report WA-RD 308.1. Final Report, 1992.

Carney

J. F.

III , and Faramawi

. Reusable Impact Attenuation Devices. Proc., American Society of Mechanical Engineers IV Symposium on Crashworthiness and Occupant Protection in Transportation Systems, AMD-Vol. 210/BED-Vol. 30, pp. 161–177, San Francisco, 1995.

Chatterjee

, and Carney

J. F.

III Occupant Protection and Interior Crashworthiness in Trains. Advanced Railroad Research Centre, Sheffield, England, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 1995.

Revans

A. J.

Crashworthiness Development: Parametric Study of Vehicles in Rakes. LR/VST/93/010, Vehicle Structures Unit, Engineering Research and Development, British Railways Board, 1993.

Tyrell

, Severson-Green

, and Marquis

. Train Crashworthiness Design for Occupant Survivability. Proc., American Society of Mechanical Engineers IV Symposium on Crashworthiness and Occupant Protection in Transportation Systems, San Francisco, 1995.

Whirley

R. G.

, Engelmann

B. E.

DYNA3D—Users Manual. UCRL-MA-107254 Rev. 1. Methods Development Group, Mechanical Engineering, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 1993.

Alberson

D. C.

Crash Testing a Reusable Polyethylene Narrow Impact Attenuation System. Texas Transportation Institute Report, Project 472380, Vanderbilt University, 1995.