The results of four full-scale vehicle-impact tests into energy-absorbing barriers using water-filled plastic cells and cartridges are reported. This barrier absorbes the energy of an impacting vehicle through the movement of water horizontally as the barrier is shortened and vertically through orifices as the flexible water cells and cartridges are compressed. The recorded vehicle passenger-compartment decelerations indicated that, although unrestrain occupants would sustain moderate to severe injuries, in most cases, furing 60-mph collisions with this barrier design, fully restrained (seat belt and shoulder harness) occupants would sustain little or no injuries during the majority of 60-mph impacts into the nose or side of the barrier. In addition, the barrier did not generate unstable vehicle behavior and, in conjunction with the bridge approach guardrail backstop, effectively redirected a vehicle impacting from the side. The overall barrier performance showed significant improvement over the concrete wedge-shaped deflectors currently in use in california on off-ramp gores.
Abstract