VEHICLE IMPACT ATTENUATION BY BARREL PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS

THE RESULTS OF FIVE DEVELOPMENTAL CRASH TESTS ON BARREL PROTECTIVE BARRIERS ARE DISCUSSED. TWO TESTS WERE HEAD-ON, TWO AT AN IMPACT ANGLE OF 30 DEGREES, AND ONE AT 20 DEGREES. THE SYSTEMS TESTED RESULTED IN EXCELLENT BEHAVIOR FOR THE TWO HEAD-ON TESTS (56 MPH WITH A 4500 LB. CAR, AND 53 MPH WITH A 3400 LB. CAR). STOPPING DISTANCES WERE 16 AND 12 FEET RESPECTIVELY AND VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS MINOR. THE FIRST OBLIQUE TEST RESULTED IN A FAILURE OF THE CABLE ANCHORAGE. IN THE SECOND OBLIQUE TEST A 12 GAGE W SECTION SURROUNDED THE BARRELS, THE 3600 LB. VEHICLE STRUCK THE BARRIER AT 50 MPH AND 30 DEGREE POCKETING IN THE BARRIER. THE THIRD OBLIQUE TEST INVOLVED A 3900 LB. VEHICLE STRIKING THE BARRIER (WITHOUT THE ADDED W SECTION) AT 41 MPH AND 20 DEGREES. ALTHOUGH AVERAGE DECELERATIONS WERE TOLERABLE IN THIS TEST THE VEHICLE DID POCKET AND ROLL BACK ON THE ROADWAY. AS A RESULT OF THESE TESTS THREE BARREL BARRIERS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN HOUSTON AND ONE IN DALLAS WITH OTHERS UNDER CONTRACT. AS A RESULT OF THE LAST OBLIQUE TEST A CRUSHABLE SUPPORT FOR THE ANCHORAGE CABLE WAS INCORPORATED TO REDUCE THE TENDENCY FOR THE BARRIER TO PUSH A VEHICLE BACK ON THE ROADWAY AFTER A HIGH ANGLE COLLISION. /BPR/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Hpr, Hpr-1 (8), 2-8-68-146
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
  Arlington, TX  United States  76011

  Texas State Department of Highways & Public Transp

  11th and Brazos Streets
  Austin, TX  United States  78701

  Bureau of Public Roads /US

  400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Hirsch, T J
  • Ivey, D L
• Publication Date: 1969-1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Angularity; Cables; Containers; Crash cushions; Crash tests; Crashes; Deceleration; Frontal crashes; Impacts; Motor vehicles; Speed; Stopping distances; Testing
• Uncontrolled Terms: Angles; Attenuation
• Old TRIS Terms: Attenuators
• Subject Areas: Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00219719
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Bureau of Public Roads /US
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jul 22 1994 12:00AM