A model for predicting Acceleration Severity Index in impacts with road safety barriers

ABSTRACT

Flexibility of a road safety barrier is a measure of the propensity of the barrier to deflect during impact. Acceleration Severity Index (ASI) is a vehicle occupant severity indicator measured during homologation of road safety barriers. Published literature suggests that ASI may vary with impact configuration (impacting vehicle mass, speed and angle) and barrier flexibility. Published literature also suggests that ASI may be a vector to occupant injury outcomes. The development of a model for predicting ASI for tracking impacts with road safety barriers as a function of impact configuration and flexibility is presented. The model is used to illustrate how ASI is predicted to vary as a function of impact configuration.

KEYWORDS:

• Acceleration severity index
• crash testing
• road safety barriers
• vehicle restraint systems

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.