Abstract
In the research described here, a vehicle/barrier crush model was developed and combined with a vehicle model to simulate impacts with the concrete safety-shaped barriers (CSSB). The crush model accounts for the effects of both the deformation and deformation rate of the vehicle body on the vehicle/barrier interface force. The barrier was assumed to be rigid with a variable number of sloped faces. The vehicle model chosen was that used in the Highway Vehicle Object Simulation Model (HVOSM). A set of deformation tracking (DT) points was introduced on the vehicle periphery to track the deformation history of the vehicle body during the impact. These points identify the deformation pattern over each barrier surface at each time step. A surface is then fitted to the interface force intensity values at each of these DT points. The sprung-mass-impact-force subroutine of the HVOSM computer program was replaced with a set of subroutines that determine the vehicle barrier/interface force intensity according to the new crush model. Subroutines were also incorporated to integrate the force intensity over the interface area by fitting a surface to the scattered intensity values. Calibration and validation of the program was accomplished by simulating (a) three problems having known solutions, (b) two full-scale crash tests with a rigid wall instrumented to measure the total lateral force on the wall, and (c) six full-scale crash tests with CSSB. Overall, the program simulated gross vehicle motions for CSSB impacts at an acceptable level of accuracy for a wide range of impact conditions. Finally, a study was conducted to investigate the performance of small- and large-size automobiles impacting a CSSB. This study demonstrated one of the many uses of the program.
Perera, Huron Samantha (1987). Simulation of vehicular impacts with safety-shaped barrier. Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -754230.