DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW COLLAPSING-RING BRIDGE RAIL SYSTEM

An energy-absorbing bridge rail system that uses the plastic deformation of steel rings as the primary impact energy absorber has been developed through full-scale crash testing and the use of the BARRIER VII computer program. The system design not only is capable of withstanding impacts by large vehicles such as buses and trucks but also does not impact high accelerations to impacting smaller vehicles. Ten full-scale crash tests were performed with vehicles ranging from 2,000 to 40,000 lb (907 to 18,144 kg). Redirection of high-speed (55 mph (89 km/h)), 40,000-lb (18,144-kg) vehicles (articulated and nonarticulated) impacting at a 19-deg angle was demonstrated. No significant elastic rebound of the rails and energy-absorbing rings was evident during test. Vehicle damage was limited to mostly sheet metal damage of the impacing front quadrant and side panels with limited suspension damage at the same quadrant. Bridge rail damage ranged from slight for the subcompact vehicle impact to extreme for heavy vehicle impacts. Tests were documented by strain gauge, vehicle accelerometer, and high-speed movie data as well as permanent deformation measurements. /Author/

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/566/566-004.pdf
• Record URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=DEVELOPMENT+OF+A+NEW+COLLAPSING-RING+BRIDGE+RAIL+SYSTEM&author=C.+Kimball&author=M.+Bronstad&author=J.+Michie&author=J.+Wentworth&author=J.+Viner&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309024765
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Safety Appurtenances. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Kimball, C E
  • Bronstad, M E
  • Michie, J D
  • Wentworth, J A
  • Viner, J G
• Conference:
  • 54th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia
  • Date: 1975-1-13 to 1975-1-17
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 31-43
• Monograph Title: Vehicle barrier systems
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 566
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accelerometers; Bridge design; Bridge railings; Bridges; Buses; Collapse; Compact automobiles; Computer programs; Crash tests; Crashes; Energy absorption; Impacts; Motion pictures; Plastic deformation; Strain gages; Structural design; Testing; Trucks
• Old TRIS Terms: Small car
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Highways; Motor Carriers; Public Transportation; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00139247
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309024765
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 4 1976 12:00AM