Occupant severity prediction from simulation of small car impact with various concrete barrier profiles

Abstract

Simulation of a small car (817 kg) impacting with various rigid concrete road safety barrier profiles is conducted. The simulated small car represents a test vehicle used in the development of the single-slope concrete barrier profile and these test results are used to calibrate the simulation model at the tested speed and angle. After validation, five profiles, (1) single-slope, (2) vertical, (3) New Jersey, (4) F-shape and (5) General Motors, are inserted into the model environment where a total of 99 simulated impacts for each profile (n = 495 total) are performed. The results of the simulated impacts are analysed and presented for occupant severity in terms of Acceleration Severity Index (ASI) and maximum roll angle. ASI is subjected to a regression analysis in order to generate a predictive model which could be used to determine ASI probability for small cars at any particular site given a specific concrete barrier profile. The results indicate that relatively large differences in impact severity are required to achieve the same ASI across the different concrete barrier profiles tested.

Keywords:

• concrete barrier
• occupant severity
• road safety
• safety shape

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank The Queensland Government, Department of Transport and Main Roads for providing support in the form of time and instrumentation towards this research.

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Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.