SIMPLIFIED ANALYSIS OF CHANGE IN VEHICLE MOMENTUM DURING IMPACT WITH A BREAKAWAY SUPPORT

The impact of an automobile with a breakaway support for a sign or luminaire can be divided into three phases. By using simplifying assumptions, one can determine the contributions to change in vehicle momentum by each phase. The first phase involves the crushing of the automobile with negligible motion of the support. The second phase considers the contribution change in vehicle momentum by base fracture. The third phase considers the contribution to change in vehicle momentum by the acceleration of the pole. The results of this analysis are that vehicle change in momentum can be approximated by an equation that has provided valuable insight into the effect of vehicle stiffness, breakaway force level, base fracture energy, pole inertial properties, and vehicle impact speed on change in vehicle momentum. This knowledge has facilitated the subsequent development of practical laboratory acceptance test criteria to promote safer sign and luminaire supports. /Author/

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1976/594/594-011.pdf
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=SIMPLIFIED+ANALYSIS+OF+CHANGE+IN+VEHICLE+MOMENTUM+DURING+IMPACT+WITH+A+BREAKAWAY+SUPPORT&author=R.+Owings&author=C.+Cantor&publication_year=1976
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03611981
• 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:
  • Owings, Raymond P
  • Cantor, Clarence
• Publication Date: 1976

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 39-44
• Monograph Title: Photogrammetry, water quality, safety appurtenances, and shoulder design
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 594
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Breakaway supports; Equations; Impact studies; Inertia (Mechanics); Luminaires; Momentum; Motor vehicles; Signs; Speed; Stiffness; Traffic speed
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00148949
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 030902563X
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 13 1977 12:00AM