Development of a Low Profile Work Zone Barrier Using Impact Finite Element Simulation

A new low profile portable concrete barrier system developed for use in roadside work zone environments is presented. It is shown that by making extensive use of nonlinear dynamic finite element simulation, several cycles of conceptual design refinement can be accomplished using simulation rather than expensive full scale crash testing. Modifications to the suspension characteristics of the widely used C2500 reduced resolution finite element pickup truck model are presented. A discussion of the importance of properly accounting for frictional effects in vehicle impact simulations is given and example results for various frictional representations are presented. Full scale crash tests involving both a pickup truck and a compact car impacting the new barrier were successfully carried out. Despite its low profile, the barrier is able to successfully redirect a pickup truck without causing rollover. Additionally, because the new barrier utilizes inertial resistance to redirect impacting vehicles, its performance does not depend on anchorage of the barrier segments to the roadway.