Citation

Hitz R, Molacek K, Stolle C, Polivka K, Faller R, Rohde J, Sicking D, Reid J. Accid. Reconstr. J. 2009; 19(5): 25-34.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Accident Reconstruction Journal)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This article describes a research project undertaken to redesign the New York state low-tension, three-cable guardrail terminal to be used as a tangent system with a reduced size of the anchor block. The cable terminal system was evaluated according to the Test Level 3 (TL-3) safety performance criteria set forth in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report Number 350, “Recommended Procedures for the Safety Performance Evaluation of Roadside Features.” After the cable terminal system was designed, the researchers conducted four full-scale crash tests on the system. The first test used a ¾ ton pickup truck weighing approximately 2,000 kilograms (4,400 pounds), with a target impact speed of 100.0 km/hour (62.1 mph) and an angle of 20 degrees. The last three tests were performed using a small car (820 kilograms or 1,808 pounds) with a target impact speed of 100.0 km/h (62.1 mph) and an angle of 0 degrees. The authors review the test requirements, the evaluation criteria, the barrier damage, vehicle damage, and occupant risk values for each of the tests. The second part of the study is reported on in the November/December 2009 issue of Accident Reconstruction Journal. Readers are referred to the full report at the National Technical Information Service (www.ntis.gov).