Citation

Bronstad M, Hancock KL, Meczowski L, Humble W. Transp. Res. Rec. 1987; 1133: 1-6.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

An energy-absorbing guardrail terminal (end treatment) was designed and partially developed in a Federal Highway Administration contract at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). The development of this device was completed by Syro Steel Company under contract to SwRI. The vehicle-attenuating terminal (V-A-T) described in this paper is a unique energy-absorbing design to attenuate vehicle energy in end-on impacts. The basic principle of this design uses the tearing of metal between slots specially punched in W-beam sections to absorb the energy. The design also provides essential anchorage for guardrail impacts downstream of the terminal. This paper reports the results of a crash test series conducted according to the terminal test requirements of NCHRP Report 230 with 1,800-lb (820-kg) and 4,500-lb (2040-kg) test vehicles.

RESULTS of the crash test series indicate compliance with Report 230, and recommendations for V-A-T use are given.

Record URL:
http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1987/1133/1133-001.pdf


TRT Terms: Anchoring; Compliance; Crashes; Design; Energy absorption; Guardrail terminals; Impact tests; Testing
Uncontrolled Terms: Attenuation
Old TRIS Terms: Test results
Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Language: en

Keywords

HIGHWAY SYSTEMS; VEHICLES - Testing; AUTOMOBILES; METALS TESTING - Impact