Guardrail Anchoring Plate Deformation for Lower Bridge Impact Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steel barrier structures for vehicles installed on civil engineering structures face issues with high force transmission during impacts, leading to potential damage and detachment, especially at high traffic speeds, and existing solutions do not adequately address reduced force transmission and deflective capacity requirements.
Innovation Solution
An anchoring system for a metal vehicle deflection structure featuring a base plate with indentations and bevels, reinforced with protrusions, allowing for controlled plastic deformation and increased contact surface to manage mechanical torque without premature detachment, using anchoring materials like bore holes or clamps, and incorporating a post with a profile and reinforcement materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If weak or fragile zones are provided in the anchoring plate to reduce force transmission, then the force transmission to the civil engineering structure is reduced, but the bearing element and rails can completely detach from the structure
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate is designed with non-uniform thickness, creating localized weak zones (reduced thickness areas) that allow controlled plastic deformation. These weak zones are strategically positioned to enable energy absorption through deformation while the overall plate maintains sufficient strength to prevent complete detachment. This local variation in thickness provides both force reduction and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inventors change the physical parameter of the base plate by introducing variable thickness. The base plate transitions from a uniform thickness design to a non-uniform thickness design with specific reduced thickness zones. This parameter change enables the plate to undergo controlled plastic deformation under impact loads, absorbing energy while maintaining structural integrity and preventing complete failure.
2Force
If the base plate material deforms plastically to reduce force transmission, then the force on the structure is reduced, but the deflective capacity is limited for high speed traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extends the energy absorption mechanism from two-dimensional planar deformation to three-dimensional controlled deformation by utilizing the vertical thickness dimension. The non-uniform thickness design allows the base plate to deform through a larger volume of material, increasing the energy absorption capacity and deflective capacity while maintaining force reduction benefits.
3Force
If the bearing element and rails are designed to detach completely to reduce force transmission, then the force on the structure is reduced, but the barrier function is not guaranteed and safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the potentially harmful complete detachment into a beneficial controlled deformation process. Instead of allowing the bearing element and rails to detach completely (which would be harmful), the design channels the impact energy into controlled plastic deformation of the base plate's weak zones. This transforms the harmful detachment mechanism into a beneficial energy absorption mechanism that maintains the barrier function while reducing force transmission.
4Speed
If a heavier base plate is used to increase deflective capacity, then the barrier function is improved, but the installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly increasing the base plate weight, the invention applies local quality variation by creating non-uniform thickness with specific reduced thickness zones. This allows the plate to have sufficient overall strength and deflective capacity while minimizing unnecessary material usage and weight in areas where full strength is not required, thereby simplifying installation.
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 reduces force transmission, maintains structural integrity, and ensures high deflective capacity, minimizing damage to the civil engineering structure while ensuring the barrier function, even at high speeds, with lighter weight and efficient installation.
Implementation Method 1
the material between the indentations can deform when a mechanical torque exceeds a pre-defined value as a result of the impact with the vehicle
Data Source
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AI summary
Pursuant to one embodiment, a metal vehicle deflection structure (101) is disclosed that is suitable to be installed on a civil engineering structure (710), the civil engineering structure being suitable for vehicle traffic, the construction comprising a set of anchoring systems (102-104) pursuant to one of the previous and one or more guard rails (105-107) attached to the posts of the anchoring system, whereby, when attached, the longitudinal direction of the one or more rails is directed in a direction of traffic on the side of the traffic, whereby the anchoring systems (102-104) are configured to reduce the transmission of force to the civil engineering structure (710) by providing a support foot.