The Impact of Forming Processes on Road Barrier Strength.

This paper presents a numerical study of a road barrier subjected to a bus crash test. The authors focus on the proper description of a barrier material model. Material model parameters are verified according to a simulated forming process. The solution uses modeling and simulation methods, as well as the finite elements method implemented with LS-DYNA software. The obtained results show that defining a proper road barrier model must consider the manufacturing process. Intensive plastic deformation leads to a significant increase in yield stress only in areas where the highest strain is observed during the forming process. The barrier model is divided into three zones, each of which have material properties characterized by different constants. The described construction, which uses homogenous material, is much more deformed and flatter than that of the improved model. Comparison with the experimental results shows that the new model better describes barrier deformation. In addition, deformation of the barrier under impact is evaluated according to European regulations (EN 1317). In comparison to the performed bus crash test, the crash test parameters obtained in the numerical simulation (static working width and normalized working width) gave more accurate results when the improved material model was utilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]