United States Department of Transportation
i
Rollover Caused by Concrete Safety Shaped Barrier, Volume I: Technical Report
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1989-12-01
[PDF-2.96 MB]
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Abstract:The objectives of this study are to: (1) identify the root causes of rollover of vehicles in impacts with concrete safety shaped barriers, (2) determine the extent and severity of overturn collisions 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, statistical and clinical analysis of four accident data files, and computer simulations. The extent of the rollover problem on concrete safety shaped barriers is found to be less than reported in previous literature. A number of impact conditions were identified from accident studies and confirmed by simulation as potential contributory factors to rollovers. Three alternate shapes were evaluated as potential countermeasures: (1) F-shape, (2) single constant sloped barrier, and (3) vertical wall. Results of the evaluation show that the F-shape barrier offers little performance improvement. The vertical wall barrier offers the greatest reduction in rollover potential, but also with the greatest increase in lateral accelerations. The single constant sloped barrier with an 80 degree slope may provide the best compromise solution. A benefit/cost analysis is needed and recommended to properly compare between the various barrier shapes. This is Volume I of a two-volume final report. The other volume, FHWA-RD-88-220, contains appendixes that are too bulky for inclusion in this technical report. It is only available from the National Technical Information Service.
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