INEXPENSIVE LOW-SPEED IMPACT ATTENUATOR

A series of vehicle crash tests was performed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology, to evaluate and demonstrate the performance and effectiveness of a low-speed barrier designed by JPL. The JPL barrier is a configuration of empty aluminum beverage cans contained in a tear-resistant bag, which in turn is encased in a collapsible container made of plywood and steel. Static testing indicated the compressing of one 12-ounce aluminum beverage can will dissipate 28 ft-lb of energy at 72 percent compression. Vehicular crash tests indicated that the dynamic energy dissipation per can was substantially higher - about two or three times - than the static. Seventeen tests were conducted with a driven vehicle at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The light-weight can-filled barrier was very effective in softening the impact of an automobile in head-on and off-angle collisions.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1606878
• Corporate Authors:

  Public Works Journal Corporation

  P.O. Box 688
  Ridgewood, NJ  United States  07451
• Publication Date: 1983-12

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 50-51
• Serial:
  • Public Works
  • Volume: 114
  • Issue Number: 12
  • Publisher: Hanley Wood
  • ISSN: 0033-3840
  • Serial URL: http://www.pwmag.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alloys; Aluminum; Aluminum alloys; Crash cushions; Crash tests; Highways; Prevention; Safety; Salvage; Traffic barriers
• Uncontrolled Terms: Barriers; Crash barriers
• Old TRIS Terms: Highway systems
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00385859
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 28 1984 12:00AM