Elastomer Impact Mats for Concrete Vehicle Restraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle restraint systems, particularly those with concrete structures, fail to absorb impact energy effectively, leading to severe injuries as smaller vehicles climb and sway upon impact, causing occupants to hit the side rail or experience internal injuries due to the non-yielding nature of the concrete.
Innovation Solution
Attaching an elastomer sheet with a stiffening structure, such as a lattice or honeycomb design, to the concrete wall structure to enhance friction and absorb impact energy, preventing vehicles from climbing and reducing swaying movements by braking the vehicle along the restraint system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a concrete structure with upwardly tapering profile is used, then the structure does not give way in impact and can secure roadways in narrow installation situations, but the entire impact energy has to be dissipated by the vehicle itself leading to severe injuries
Solution Approach 1:
An elastomer sheet is attached to the concrete wall structure before impact occurs. This elastomer layer acts as a cushioning element that deforms during impact, absorbing and dissipating impact energy gradually, thereby reducing the harmful effects on vehicle occupants while maintaining the structural strength of the concrete wall.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle restraint system combines concrete material with elastomer material to create a composite structure. The concrete provides structural strength and stability, while the elastomer provides energy absorption and impact mitigation, resulting in a system that maintains strength while reducing occupant injury risk.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a non-yielding concrete structure is used, then the structure maintains its position and secures the roadway, but considerable swaying movements occur leading to massive internal injuries and neck bridges
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomer sheet is pre-installed on the concrete structure to provide cushioning during impact. This cushioning layer reduces the suddenness of the stop by allowing controlled deformation, thereby minimizing swaying movements and the associated internal injuries and neck bridges while preserving structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomer material changes its physical parameters during impact - it deforms and absorbs energy, transitioning from a rigid state to a more compliant state. This parameter change allows the structure to maintain stability while reducing the harmful dynamic effects on occupants.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an elastomer sheet is attached to the wall structure, then impact forces are reduced and vehicles are braked along the restraint system, but the elastomer sheet must be stiffened to prevent destruction by high collision forces
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomer sheet is reinforced with a stiffening structure consisting of lattice or honeycomb elements made of high-strength material. This creates a composite where the elastomer provides energy absorption and friction-based braking, while the stiffening structure prevents destruction under high collision forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffening structure is integrated into the elastomer sheet at specific locations where high stresses occur during impact. This local reinforcement provides the necessary strength to prevent destruction while maintaining the overall energy-absorbing characteristics of the elastomer material.
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 elastomer sheet significantly reduces impact forces and swaying movements, providing better safety by ensuring vehicles are braked and directed back to the roadway, thereby minimizing injuries and enhancing the safety of existing and new concrete restraint systems.
Implementation Method 1
the elastomer sheet is stiffened to prevent the elastomer sheet from being destroyed by the high forces that occur as a result of a collision with a vehicle and essentially remaining ineffective the vehicle is largely prevented from climbing on the vehicle restraint system due to the friction. Rather, the vehicle is braked strongly and rubs, so to speak, along the vehicle restraint system until it is directed back to the roadway after a considerable proportion of the impact forces have been reduced.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The system (10) has weft-like compound elastomer mats (20, 22, 24) provided at a side of a wall structure (12) i.e. seamless situ concrete wall, of a lane, where the side faces towards the lane. The mats are provided with a stiffening structure. The stiffening structure is formed by a grid structure or a web structure. The mats lie at the wall structure with a continuous rear wall (30). The mats are fixed at the wall structure by fastening bolts (26). The mats are provided with multiple holes and water drain openings. The wall structure is made of concrete.