Wedge Hinge Plate Assembly for Grounded Crash Cushion Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traffic barrier end treatments launch impacting vehicles into the air, redirect them into adjacent lanes, buckle, and fragment, causing damage and harm, and are often incompatible with barrier transfer machines (BTMs), compromising impact mitigation performance.
Innovation Solution
An anchorless crash cushion apparatus with a nose assembly and hinge plate assemblies that prevent vehicles from lifting off the ground, minimize fragmentation, and are compatible with BTMs, featuring a transition component, crash cushion elements, stabilizing members, and hinge plate assemblies that pivotably connect to traffic dividers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional traffic barrier end treatments are used, then vehicles are arrested by the barrier, but the barrier launches vehicles into the air or redirects them into adjacent lanes
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier system is divided into multiple crash cushion elements that can deform independently during impact. Each element contains energy-absorbing material that crushes sequentially, allowing the barrier to absorb impact energy through controlled deformation rather than rigid arrest, thereby preventing vehicle launch while maintaining arrest capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier transitions from a rigid structure to a deformable structure by changing the physical state of the energy-absorbing material. The material transitions from solid to compressed state during impact, changing the barrier's mechanical properties from rigid to compliant, which prevents vehicle launch while maintaining arrest capability.
2Reliability
If traditional traffic barrier end treatments are used, then vehicles are arrested by the barrier, but the barrier buckles and bursts into fragments
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is segmented into multiple discrete crash cushion elements connected together. Each element is designed to deform controllably without fracturing, and the segmentation allows each element to absorb impact energy independently, preventing the barrier from buckling and fragmenting while maintaining vehicle arrest capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier uses composite construction combining rigid outer shells with energy-absorbing material fillers. This composite structure allows the barrier to deform the energy-absorbing material while maintaining structural integrity of the outer shell, preventing fragmentation while enabling controlled deformation for vehicle arrest.
3Adaptability or versatility
If BTM-compatible barrier end treatments are used, then the barrier can be moved by barrier transfer machines, but impact mitigation performance is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The crash cushion elements are designed with universal features that allow them to function both as static barrier end treatments and as movable components for BTM operations. The elements include attachment features and geometric configurations that enable them to be transferred by BTM while maintaining their crash mitigation functionality when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier system transitions from a static structure to a dynamic, movable structure through BTM operations. The crash cushion elements are designed to maintain their structural integrity and functional properties whether stationary or being transferred, allowing the system to adapt between different operational states without compromising impact mitigation performance.
4Reliability
If rigid barricades are used, then lateral vehicle encroachment is prevented, but the barricades are not compatible with BTMs
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier system transitions from a rigid static structure to a dynamic movable structure. The crash cushion elements are designed with movable attachment features and geometric configurations that allow them to be transferred by BTM operations while maintaining their ability to prevent lateral vehicle encroachment when deployed in the barrier configuration.
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 apparatus effectively prevents vehicles from being catapulted, maintains contact with the ground during impact, reduces debris, and is compatible with BTMs without compromising impact mitigation performance.
Implementation Method 1
hinge plate assemblies that pivotably connect the crash cushion elements together end-to-end
Implementation Method 2
Elements of the anchorless crash cushion apparatus are configured to lift upwards when the anchorless crash cushion apparatus is impacted by a vehicle so that a center of gravity of the anchorless crash cushion apparatus remains above a center of gravity of the vehicle
Implementation Method 3
The first hinge plate assembly includes a forward structure, a rearward structure, and a wedge incline
Data Source
AI summary
An anchorless crash cushion apparatus comprises a number of crash cushion elements and a number of hinge plate assemblies. The crash cushion elements are configured to be connected end-to-end. Each hinge plate assembly comprises a forward structure, a rearward structure, and a wedge incline. The forward structure supports the front end of one of the crash cushion elements. The rearward structure supports the rear end of the crash cushion element. The wedge incline extends diagonally upward toward the forward structure and is configured to drive a subsequent one of the crash cushion elements upward when the forward structure is driven toward the subsequent one of the crash cushion elements.