W-beam guardrail crash analysis and evaluation using finite element method

Abstract

Guardrails are highly recommended to be erected in the median and side corner of a highway road to secure vehicle accidentally loss it track, supports the safety of the vehicle driver and passenger from catastrophic accidents. The design and constructions of different guardrails are done confirming standard to retain their performance that related to energy absorption capacity. Besides, damaged guardrails that compromise their performance are seen in highways due to poor maintenance or repair. This study was conducted to investigate the structural integrity of W-beam guardrail damage. An impact test which leads to non-linear material deformation behavior was simulated using commercially available software, ABAQUS. The geometrical models of the guardrail were modeled adopting AASHTO standard, and a representative Jeep truck used to impact the guardrail at 90o with 42.26km/hr speed. The non-conforming W-beam guardrail was modeled considering a loss connection of supporting leg with the W-beam. Results of the study showed that the structural integrity of the damaged guardrail is affected as the internal and plastic energy was decreased from the W-beam guardrail without damage. More, the damaged W-beam was displaced more, by 14.15%, to the restricted area as compared to the W-beam guardrail without damage.