Development of Hybrid Energy-Absorbing Reusable Terminal for Roadside Safety Applications

The hybrid energy-absorbing reusable terminal (HEART) is a newly developed crash cushion or end terminal to be used in highway safety applications to mitigate injuries to occupants of errant vehicles. HEART is composed of corrugated plates of high-molecular weight, high-density polyethylene (HMW-HDPE) supported on steel diaphragms that slide on a fixed rail. Kinetic energy from errant vehicles is converted to other energy forms through folding and deformation of the HMW-HDPE material. Many previous designs utilized plastic or permanent deformation of plastics or steels to accomplish this goal. However, HEART is a combination of plastic and steel that forms a largely self-restoring and largely reusable crash cushion. Consequently, HEART has a major life-cycle cost advantage over conventional crash cushion designs. HEART was developed through extensive use of finite element analysis with LS-DYNA. The simulation approach adopted for the development of HEART, construction details, and a description and results of crash tests performed so far to evaluate its performance are presented. Also discussed is some of the follow-up work currently under way for approval of HEART by the Federal Highway Administration as an acceptable crash cushion for use on the National Highway System.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/1904-03
• 
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Development+of+Hybrid+Energy-Absorbing+Reusable+Terminal+for+Roadside+Safety+Applications&author=N.+Sheikh&author=D.+Alberson&author=D.+Bullard&publication_year=2005
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.trb.org/Main/Public/Blurbs/156251.aspx
• Authors:
  • Sheikh, Nauman M
  • Alberson, Dean C
  • Bullard Jr, D Lance
• Publication Date: 2005

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 26-36
• Monograph Title: Highway Facility Design
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 1904
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction; Crash cushions; Crash tests; Energy absorption; Finite element method; Guardrail terminals; Life cycle costing; Performance; Simulation
• Identifier Terms: LS-DYNA (Computer program)
• Uncontrolled Terms: High density polyethylene; Hybrid design
• Subject Areas: Construction; Design; Finance; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01003382
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309093767
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 25 2005 1:55PM