Advanced dynamic impact extension module

Abstract

An advanced dynamic impact extension module, used to protect occupants of vehicles from the adverse effects of instantaneous deacceleration of a vehicle when the vehicle impacts an end of a concrete barrier wall is disclosed. According to the invention, a composite barrier is provided which has an upper, low density, crushable component and a lower, substantially non-crushable, base component. The height of the base component will increase from the front of the barrier to the back of the barrier, located proximate the end of the concrete barrier wall, so that a vehicle impacting the barrier will first crush the upper, low-density, crushable material. If a vehicle has sufficient impact force or velocity to crush the upper crushable front component of the barrier, the undercarriage of the vehicle will coact with raised non-crushable base components of the barrier in order to bring the vehicle safely to rest before it impacts the end of a concrete barrier wall. The non-crushable base component of intermediate sections of the barrier will increase in height in step wise fashion so that as a vehicle passes through the barrier, the raised base portions of the barrier coact with the bottom, or undercarriage, of the vehicle to create friction and drag between the bottom of the vehcle and the base component of the barrier to thereby bring the vehicle to rest before it impacts the end of a concrete barrier wall.