Road Crash Barrier Terminal with Deformable Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current terminals for road crash barriers, as described in WO2016/087448 A1, are effective but costly to produce, necessitating a more economical solution that maintains or improves performance.
Innovation Solution
The terminal design includes a straight longitudinal member anchored to the ground with vertical posts, a deformable fence composed of oblong tubular modules, and a longitudinal cable to absorb kinetic energy and prevent cross beams from penetrating into vehicles, featuring protruding contrast members to enhance energy absorption and reduce module thickness, thereby lowering production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the terminal uses a longitudinal cable extending through programmed-deformation modules to absorb kinetic energy, then the energy absorption capacity is improved, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the longitudinal cable from the terminal structure, extracting this costly component while maintaining energy absorption capacity through the programmed-deformation modules alone. The modules are designed to deform and absorb kinetic energy without requiring the additional cable reinforcement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs programmed-deformation modules that are designed to deform permanently during impact, absorbing energy through controlled plastic deformation. These modules serve as disposable energy-absorbing elements that eliminate the need for expensive reusable cables, reducing production costs while maintaining safety performance.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the terminal uses thick programmed-deformation modules to ensure sufficient energy absorption, then the safety performance is improved, but the production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the geometric parameters of the programmed-deformation modules, specifically their thickness and deformation characteristics. By carefully selecting and adjusting these parameters, the modules achieve sufficient energy absorption capacity with reduced thickness, lowering material consumption and production costs while maintaining safety performance.
3Reliability
If the terminal uses a complex structure with multiple components (longitudinal member, posts, cable, modules) to ensure reliable vehicle containment, then the safety performance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the longitudinal cable from the terminal structure, simplifying the overall design from four main components to three. This extraction eliminates the complexity of cable routing, anchoring, and tensioning while maintaining vehicle containment reliability through the enhanced programmed-deformation modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates the energy absorption function previously performed by both the cable and modules into the modules alone. The programmed-deformation modules are designed to handle both lateral and longitudinal energy absorption, merging multiple functions into a single component and reducing overall structural complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The terminal effectively absorbs vehicle kinetic energy, prevents cross beam penetration, and reduces production costs by increasing energy absorption capacity while minimizing module thickness, thus offering a cost-effective alternative to existing designs.
Implementation Method 1
structured so as to absorb, in the event of impact, a large part of the kinetic energy of the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
absorb, in the event of impact, a large part of the kinetic energy of the vehicle
Data Source
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AI summary
A terminal for road crash barriers (1) comprising: a longitudinal member (2) which is laid on and stably anchored to the ground (P); an interconnecting vertical upright (3), which is integral with, and rises above, said longitudinal member (2), and is adapted to be rigidly fixed to the end of a road crash barrier (100); a row of programmed-deformation modules (5, 6) with oblong tubular structure, which are arranged side-by-side and firmly anchored to one other, and are located in a substantially vertical position above the longitudinal member (2), starting from the interconnecting vertical upright (3), and with the lower end/mouth resting slidingly on the longitudinal member (2), so as to form a deformable fence (4) laterally fixed to the interconnecting vertical upright (3); and one and more contrast members (7), which extend cantilevered from the longitudinal member (2) and engage the lower end/mouth of at least a part of the programmed-deformation modules (5), so as to thwart/restrain the sliding of the same programmed-deformation modules (5) along the longitudinal member (2).