Rollover Caused by Concrete Safety Shaped Barrier, Volume II - Appendices
Author(s):
K.K. Mak, D.L. Sicking, J.R. Lock
Publication Date:
January 1989
Abstract:
This paper presents the results of a study sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and conducted at the Texas Transportation Institute (TTl) which examined the issue of rollovers caused by concrete safety-shaped barriers. The study objectives were to: (I) determine the extent and severity of overturn collisions with concrete safety-shaped barriers, (2) identify the root causes of rollover of vehicles in impacts with concrete safety-shaped barriers, and (3) identify potential countermeasures to reduce shaped concrete barrier rollovers. The study approach consisted of critical review of literature, clinical and statistical analysis of accident data files, and computer simulation. The extent of the rollover problem on concrete safety shaped barriers was found to be less than reported in previous 1 iterature. A number of impact conditions were identified from accident studies and confirmed by simulation as potential contributory factors to rollovers. Three alternate barrier shapes were evaluated as potential countermeasures: (I) F shape, (2) constant slope, and (3) vertical wall. Results of the evaluation show that the F-shaped barrier offers 1 ittle performance improvement over the existing safety shape. The vertical wall barrier offers the greatest reduction in rollover potential, but also with the greatest increase in lateral accelerations. The constant sloped barrier may provide the best compromise solution.
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