Reinforced Pedestrian Guard Rails for Hostile Vehicle Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pedestrian guard rails are not designed to withstand deliberate, targeted vehicle impacts and lack robustness against malicious attacks, posing a safety risk to pedestrians and pavement users.
Innovation Solution
A reinforcing arrangement is introduced into existing guard rail panels, comprising horizontal and vertical steel wire cables tethered together, connected to adjacent panels and support posts, forming a robust internal structure that enhances the guard rails' ability to resist vehicle impacts while maintaining a similar appearance and visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional pedestrian guard rails are used, then aesthetic appearance and visibility are maintained, but protection against deliberate vehicle impacts is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds steel wire cables inside the existing guard rail panels, nesting the reinforcement structure within the original framework. The cables are threaded through hollow sections of the guard rails and secured at intervals, creating a nested configuration that strengthens the barrier without altering its external appearance or requiring additional external components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses flexible steel wire cables that can be threaded and tensioned within the rigid guard rail structure. These flexible cables conform to the existing panel geometry and can be installed through the hollow sections without requiring complete disassembly of the original structure, maintaining simplicity while providing reinforcement.
2Reliability
If reinforcement structures are added to guard rails, then protection against hostile vehicle attacks is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The steel wire cables are pre-cut to specific lengths and pre-threaded through the guard rail panels during manufacturing or pre-installation preparation. This preliminary action allows the cables to be quickly installed on-site by simply tensioning and securing them at designated intervals, rather than requiring complex on-site fabrication or assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The guard rail panels are designed with built-in hollow sections that serve dual purposes: maintaining structural integrity and providing pathways for cable installation. The existing structure essentially serves itself by providing the reinforcement channels, eliminating the need for separate reinforcement housings or complex mounting mechanisms.
3Strength
If heavy reinforcement is applied to guard rails, then vehicle impact resistance is enhanced, but aesthetic appearance and visibility are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement cables are nested within the hollow sections of the existing guard rail panels, making them invisible from the outside. This nesting approach allows the barrier to maintain its original aesthetic appearance and visibility characteristics while providing enhanced strength through the internal cable reinforcement that is concealed within the panel structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement is applied locally within the hollow sections of the guard rails where it is structurally most effective, rather than adding external cladding or covers that would affect the overall appearance. The cables are positioned to provide maximum strength where vehicle impact is most likely to occur, while remaining hidden within the existing panel geometry.
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Aspects of the invention relate to a vehicle security barrier system for hostile vehicle mitigation. The vehicle security barrier system comprising: a panel; first and second support members; and a reinforcing arrangement.