Run off the road accidents occur frequently at curves. In spite of this the performance of safety barriers are most evaluated by often full-scale crash tests on rectilinear barriers. In this paper the dynamics and outcomes of lorries colliding with safety barriers at horizontal curves are presented. The study uses a numerical approach with simulations of the collisions through non-linear finite element analysis. The study has highlighted factors behind different behaviours of the safety barriers, i.e. the change in the restraint system stiffness and the different yaw motion and the vehicle's velocity change needed to redirect the vehicle. These factors affect the barrier containment capacity. Results show that maximum transversal barrier displacement decreases on the outside of curves and increases at the inside. A large displacement on the inside of the curve causes an increase in the risk for vehicles passing over the barrier. As far as the rollover risk is concerned it increases on the outside of the curves, where the run off the road accidents are significantly greater. (A)
Abstract