Energy Dissipation Characteristics of Clustered Rubber Cylinders

Details

• Creators:
  Sicking, Dean L. ; Thompson, Michael F. ; Ross Jr, Hayes E.
• Corporate Creators:
  Texas Transportation Institute. Texas A&M University
• Corporate Contributors:
  Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation ; United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration
• Subject/TRT Terms:
  Costs Crash Cushions Dissipation Durability Energy Absorption Feasibility Analysis High Risk Locations Life Cycle Analysis Life Cycle Costing Maintenance Natural Rubber Prototypes Testing

  More +
• Publication/ Report Number:
  FHWA/TX-89/453-lF
• Resource Type:
  Tech Report
• Geographical Coverage:
  Texas ; United States
• Edition:
  Final Report: September 1986 - August 1988
• Corporate Publisher:
  Texas Transportation Institute. Texas A&M University
• Abstract:
  Crash cushions have proven to be one of the most cost-beneficial life-saving devices on our nation's highways. However, all of the widely used designs utilize sacrificial, energy-absorbing materials. A significant maintenance effort, with associated costs, is necessary to restore these cushions after an impact. The purpose of the present research was to develop a low-maintenance crash cushion utilizing reusable rubber elements. An extensive laboratory study was made to evaluate various rubber compounds and shapes in terms of energy-absorbing characteristics, durability, sensitivity to the environment, and cost. Of the materials examined, it was found that a natural rubber 20% EPDM blend-offered the greatest promise. A full-scale prototype crash cushion was then constructed consisting of a cluster of hollow circular cylinders formed from the above material. The prototype was subjected to a series of vehicular crash tests. Due to unexpected failures in the rubber cylinders, it was not possible to completely qualify the cushion in terms of recommended impact performance criteria. The failures were attributed to the mandrell wrapping process by which the cylinders were constructed. It was concluded that these problems could be solved by constructing the cylinders from a compression mold process. It was further concluded that a low-maintenance rubber crash cushion is feasible and could reduce life-cycle costs in excess of 60 percent for high accident locations. Further research is recommended to complete the work reported herein.
• Format:
  PDF
• Funding:
  2-8-87-453
• Collection(s):
  US Transportation Collection
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:14a65e6b4d3df00956bf97ff23c5fa34006c6008ff143c4541b3bd9e64b2e0a69ca63dcb42e6476138314135d9738d237c6f0013be6798757dcc1f4de328c9f9
• Download URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/84975/dot_84975_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.55 MB ]