Energy Absorbing End Terminal Rail Shearing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crash barriers face challenges in effectively decelerating vehicles during end-on collisions, as the barrier's end can penetrate the vehicle without providing adequate deceleration, posing a safety risk.
Innovation Solution
An energy absorbing end terminal system featuring a rail with cut-outs and a shearing element that shears upon impact, allowing the impact device to travel along the rail and control the vehicle's deceleration, integrated with a base member and impact post for enhanced safety and ease of assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional crash barrier end is used, then the barrier structure is simple, but the end can penetrate the vehicle without providing adequate deceleration, posing a safety risk
Solution Approach 1:
The end terminal is divided into separate functional components: a movable impact device that can travel along the rail, shearing elements that engage with the rail, and a base member for mounting. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, creating an effective deceleration mechanism while maintaining reasonable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The impact device is designed to be movable along the rail rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically respond to impact forces. The device travels along the rail during collision, providing progressive deceleration through controlled shearing of the rail, which enhances safety while managing structural complexity
2Ease of operation
If a shearing mechanism is added to the barrier end, then vehicle deceleration control is improved, but manufacturing and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shearing elements are designed to automatically engage with the rail upon impact, with the impact device's movement itself driving the shearing action. The system uses the impact force to activate the deceleration mechanism, eliminating the need for external activation systems and simplifying manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The shearing elements act as intermediaries between the impact device and the rail, transferring and controlling the impact forces. These elements provide a simple mechanical interface that enables controlled deceleration through rail shearing without requiring complex control systems
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 system effectively decelerates vehicles during end-on collisions by shearing the rail, providing a controlled mechanism to stop the vehicle within the rail's length, while being cost-effective and simple to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
the shearing element is arranged to shear the rail on movement of the impact device relative to the rail
Implementation Method 2
by means of the longitudinal propagation of the plastic deformation of one or more longitudinal deformable metallic profiles produced by means of a rigid ram which is displaced along the deformable profile
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 2c~4
AI summary
An energy absorbing end terminal system (10) is connected to a crash barrier (12) by a connection piece (14). The energy absorbing end terminal system (10) has a length L indicated by an arrow. The system (10) comprises a rail (16), which is inclined such that it extends from the height of the crash barrier (12) down to the ground where it terminates at an end (18). The rail (16) is supported between the crash barrier (12) and its end 18 by a support post (19). The end (18) of the rail (16) is mounted on a base plate (20), which is anchored to the ground. An impact device (22) is mounted on the rail (16), close to the end (18) of the rail (16).