Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Energy Absorption Capacity of Fluid-filled Safety Barriers for Guardrail Terminal Replacement

Jenson, Sean R.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1462532491

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Mechanical Engineering (Engineering and Technology).
The study presented here focuses on the total energy absorption of fluid-filled structures during impact. The potential for an increase in energy absorption efficiency can be applied to larger structures for guardrail end terminal replacement or similar applications. For this study, an impact apparatus was designed and fabricated to facilitate testing of samples under low speed impact conditions. Samples were made consisting of plastic containers filled with fluid at varying levels. Samples were also made having an interior bottle with orifices allowing fluid to transfer between the bottles. Addition of orifices allows the flow of water to be controlled in a desired direction. This allows for energy transfer away from the impact direction reducing peak forces and increasing energy absorption efficiency. The preliminary results of this study show that the addition of fluid and an interior structure can potentially reduce the peak forces imparted on the impact ram as well as the energy absorption efficiency. The sample with the best performance was the sample with 2 orifices in the interior bottle and 25% filled with fluid. This sample recorded a peak force of 861.1988 N and an energy absorption efficiency of 14.2191 J/kN. This results in a 46.4% decrease in peak force and a 102.2% increase in energy absorption efficiency with respect to the filled sample without an interior bottle.
Muhammad Ali (Committee Chair)
Hajrudin Pasic (Committee Member)
Khairul Alam (Committee Member)
Sergio Ulloa (Committee Member)
77 p.
Automotive Engineering; Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Transportation
energy; impact; automobile; barrier; fluid; guardrail; terminal; transportation; absorption

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Jenson, S. R. (2016). Energy Absorption Capacity of Fluid-filled Safety Barriers for Guardrail Terminal Replacement [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1462532491

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Jenson, Sean. Energy Absorption Capacity of Fluid-filled Safety Barriers for Guardrail Terminal Replacement. 2016. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1462532491.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Jenson, Sean. "Energy Absorption Capacity of Fluid-filled Safety Barriers for Guardrail Terminal Replacement." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1462532491

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1462532491
571
© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.