At the request of the Construction Department of the Dutch Ministry of Public Works (RWS), simulations were carried out to evaluate the functioning of the half steel STEP barrier. This barrier must satisfy the H2 level in the NEN-EN 1317-1 and NEN-EN 1317-2 standard. The tests required by this standard are TB 11 and TB 51. The TB 11 test employs a light passenger car with a mass of 900 kg. The TB 51 test uses a 13,000 kg bus. Four simulations were carried out on the half steel STEP barrier with 2,000 mm and 1,333 mm spacings between the uprights. The tests using the light passenger car were acceptable. The exit angles remained within the permitted values, namely 3 degrees. The Acceleration Severity Index (ASI) values were slightly above level B, that is to say 1.44 as against 1.4. The simulations with the bus were highly satisfactory. The exit angles remained small. The barriers remained intact, and stood up to the collisions well. The half steel STEP barrier, with HEB 100 profile uprights and 2,000 mm and 1,333 mm spacings in between, consequently satisfy the `higher containment level' H2, provided that the struts are mounted in the same place as the uprights.
Samenvatting