Development of a new crash-cushion concept for compatibility purposes of rigid obstacles near the road

Steffan, Hermann; Hoschopf, Heinz; Geigl, Bertram C.; Moser, Andreas

Affiliations

¹Graz University of Technology, Institute for Mechanics Austria

Abstract

This paper describes the development of a new, easy to handle and economic crash cushion for rigid obstacles to reduce occupant loads and injury risk during the impact.

Out of different concepts and experimental crash tests of energy absorbing barriers a mixture of concrete and granulated plastics (‘Styroporbeton’) has led to the best results regarding car deceleration and intrusions.

The improvement of occupant safety of this system is documented on the one side by comparing car deformation and acceleration behavior of crash tests with and without a crash cushion in front of a rigid barrier and on the other side by comparing the impact velocities of crash tests with and without crash cushion, causing similar car deformation.

For instance the car deformation of a 95 km/h crash against the crash cushion can be compared with a crash against a rigid barrier with an impact velocity of 52 kph.

Links

URL: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/esv/esv16/98s3o11.pdf

Cited By (3)

Year	Entry
2002	Ydenius A. Influence of crash pulse duration on injury risk in frontal impacts based on real life crashes. In: Proceedings of the 2002 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 18-20, 2002; Munich, Germany.
2006	Stigson H, Ydenius A, Kullgren A. Variation of crash severity and injury risk depending on collisions with different vehicle types and objects. In: Proceedings of the 2006 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 20-22, 2006; Madrid, Spain.45-60.
1998	Kullgren A. Validity and Reliability of Vehicle Collision Data: Crash Pulse Recorders for Impact Severity and Injury Risk Assessments in Real-Life Frontal Impacts [PhD thesis]. Stockholm, Sweden: Karolinska Institute; 1998.