ROADSIDE TREE/POLE CRASH BARRIER FIELD TESTS

A series of tests was carried out to evaluate the performance of a crash barrier designed to protect the occupants of an automobile from serious injury. The JPL barrier design 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. Tests were conducted with a driven vehicle impacting the barrier. The basic requirements of NCHRP Report 153 were followed except that speeds of 30 mph rather than 60 mph were used. Accelerometer readings on the driver's helmet showed that the driver was never subjected to dangerous decelerations, and never experienced more than temporary discomfort. Also, all of the requirements of the cited report were met. An extrapolation of data indicated that the JPL barrier installed in front of a tree or telephone pole along a roadside would also have met the requirements at a speed of 40 mph.

• Corporate Authors:

  Jet Propulsion Laboratory

  California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive
  Pasadena, CA  United States  91103
• Authors:
  • Wilson, A H
• Publication Date: 1979-11-15

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 56 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aluminum; Bags; Containers; Crash injuries; Crash tests; Crashes; Energy absorption; Human factors engineering; Injuries; Injury severity; Passengers; Plywood; Poles (Supports); Reduction (Chemistry); Safety equipment; Shock absorbers; Steel structures; Traffic crashes; Trees; Urban transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Severity
• Old TRIS Terms: Barrier design; Cans; Reduction
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Passenger Transportation; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00313768
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: NASA-CR-162788, HS-029 561, JPL-PUB-79-114
• Contract Numbers: NAS7-100
• Files: HSL, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 26 1984 12:00AM