Modular Roadway Barrier with Crash Cushion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roadway barriers face issues such as excessive deflection upon impact, high costs, and risks of 'catapulting' or 'vaulting' of vehicles, which compromise safety and efficiency in managing traffic and installation.
Innovation Solution
A modular barrier system comprising hingedly connected modules of varying heights, with a crash cushion configuration and a transfer vehicle system for efficient reconfiguration and relocation, featuring a conveyor-engaging design to minimize deflection and enhance protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If movable barriers are used for lane management and roadwork, then adaptability and ease of relocation are improved, but deflection upon impact increases and safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is divided into multiple modules that can be connected together to form barriers of different lengths and configurations. This segmentation allows the barrier to be adapted to various roadway conditions and lane management needs while maintaining structural integrity through standardized connection mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Different modules have different heights (e.g., 30 inches, 42 inches, 54 inches) tailored to specific functional requirements. Terminal modules with crash cushions have different characteristics than main barrier modules, allowing optimized performance at critical locations while maintaining overall system adaptability.
2Reliability
If taller barrier modules are used to improve protection, then safety is improved, but risk of vehicle catapulting or vaulting increases
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier system uses varying module heights (30, 42, 54 inches) rather than uniform height, creating a profile that provides protection where needed while reducing the risk of vehicles gaining enough vertical clearance to vault over. Terminal modules with crash cushions are positioned at ends to manage impact energy without creating catapulting conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Crash cushions are installed at terminal modules to absorb and dissipate impact energy before it can cause vehicles to vault or catapult. This preliminary cushioning action reduces the force that would otherwise propel vehicles upward over the barrier.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional barriers are used, then installation is straightforward, but cost increases and safety performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier system uses standardized modular components that can be manufactured independently and assembled on-site through simple connection mechanisms. This modular approach maintains ease of installation while allowing optimization of each module's safety performance characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier modules utilize composite construction combining concrete or metal structures with engineered materials to achieve high strength-to-weight ratios. This allows improved safety performance while maintaining practical installation characteristics through controlled weight and standardized connection points.
4Reliability
If barrier modules of varying heights are used, then protection performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is composed of standardized modules with varying heights (30, 42, 54 inches) that can be connected using uniform connection mechanisms. This segmentation allows complex protection profiles to be achieved while maintaining simple, repeatable assembly procedures for each module type.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design with standardized connections allows the same basic module type to serve multiple functions at different heights and positions. A single module design can be used in various configurations to address different safety requirements, reducing overall system 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 modular barrier system reduces deflection, mitigates risks of vehicle upward movement, and facilitates easier installation and reconfiguration, thereby enhancing safety and operational efficiency in managing traffic and road maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
Terminal ones of the barrier modules implement a crash cushion configured to deform when impacted by a vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A barrier for a roadway (e.g., a highway, bridge, or other road), which can be used to manage vehicular traffic, such as to establish lanes, protect motorists and other people (e.g., pedestrians, constructions workers, etc.) against crashes or other impacts, and/or other purposes, and which may be configured to enhance its use and performance, such as by better protecting the motorists and others when impacted by vehicles (e.g., reducing deflection by deflecting less or substantially not deflecting; mitigating risks of “catapulting” or “vaulting” of vehicles; and/or otherwise improving protection provided by the barrier), facilitating transportation, installation and/or transfer of the barrier at the roadway, and/or enhancing other aspects of the barrier.