Cable Barrier Anchor Body Frangible Release Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable-barrier anchoring systems are ineffective in preventing ramping and snagging issues during vehicle impacts from both directions, particularly reverse impacts, as they only function unidirectionally and fail to release anchor-cables effectively.
Innovation Solution
An anchor-body with apertures that receive and retain anchor-cables to counterbalance forces, releasing them during collisions to prevent ramping and snagging, featuring a slot design that allows anchor-cables to exit upon deformation, and a strut system to distribute forces and prevent upward lift.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If anchor-cables are anchored to ground at an inclination to counterbalance barrier-cable forces, then anchoring stability is improved, but the inclined cables act as a ramp during vehicle impact causing vehicles to roll or become airborne
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor-body incorporates a frangible member that transitions the anchoring system from a static inclined cable configuration to a dynamic release mechanism. During normal operation, the frangible member maintains the anchored position for stability. During impact, the frangible member breaks under excessive force, allowing the anchor-cable to release and eliminate the harmful ramping effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible member is designed to be extracted or broken away from the anchor-body during impact events. This extraction mechanism removes the source of the ramping problem (the anchored inclined cable) while preserving the stable anchoring configuration during normal operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If quick release mechanisms are used to prevent ramping in one direction, then ramping is reduced for head-on impacts, but the system fails to prevent ramping and snagging during reverse direction impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor-body with frangible member design serves multiple functions: it provides stable anchoring during normal operation, prevents ramping in head-on impacts by releasing anchor-cables, and prevents snagging in reverse impacts by allowing the same release mechanism to activate regardless of impact direction. This universal solution replaces the need for direction-specific quick release mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible member is positioned and configured to break under tension forces from any direction. The asymmetric positioning of the frangible member relative to the anchor-body aperture ensures that forces from either direction will exceed the breaking strength, enabling bidirectional protection while maintaining a relatively simple symmetric overall structure.
3Strength
If anchor-cables are retained firmly in the anchor-body aperture, then anchoring integrity is improved, but the system cannot release cables during collision to prevent ramping and snagging
Solution Approach 1:
The frangible member is pre-configured to break before the anchor-cable can cause harmful snagging or ramping effects. By designing the frangible member with a specific breaking strength lower than the force required to cause vehicle snagging, the system proactively prevents the harmful effect before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The frangible member is positioned and sized in advance to break under predetermined force conditions. This preliminary configuration ensures that when impact forces exceed the frangible member's strength, the release action occurs automatically without requiring additional control systems or complex mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable-barrier system that includes an anchor-body and terminal post which receive and retain one or more anchor-cables and are anchored to a footing to counter balance the force applied to the anchor body by one or more barrier-cables. The system also allows for the release of the anchor-cables during a collision by a vehicle.