If a vehicle crashes into a safety barrier, the profile of the cross-section outline of the barrier highly determines the behaviour of the vehicle, the damage to the vehicle and the injuries to the vehicle occupants. In the past the New Jersey profile proved to be the best of all available profiles. Evaluation studies however showed that small vehicles which collide at a high speed with a New Jersey barrier are apt to roll-over. This knowledge led to investigations of alternative profiles. Model simulations and full scale crash tests show that a single slope safety barrier provides a possible safer solution. A design study has been carried out and the results are presented. The safety barrier is called "Stepbarrier". This name refers to the widening or step at the base. The step intends to reduce vehicle damage in case of minor collisions. Different types of the Stepbarrier are designed: fixed concrete types, flexible concrete type, fixed steel type and flexible steel type.
Abstract