Research Information System
Heavy Vehicle Systems, vol.10, no.3, pp.209-223, 2003 (SCI-Expanded)
The G2 steel weak-post W-beam guardrail system has been used along Turkish highways extensively. This system is characterised by larger dynamic deflections in a collision and is considered more forgiving compared to other suffer barriers. The impact performance of the system is found to be satisfactory on a level terrain. However, in Turkey there are several locations where G2 systems are installed on the slope break point adjacent to steep roadside slopes, and the impact performance of G2 systems under these circumstances has never been investigated. In this study, the impact behaviour of G2 guardrail systems on nonlevel terrain is investigated. LS-DYNA, a dynamic, nonlinear, large deformation finite element analysis program is used to predict the crash performance of G2 systems installed adjacent to roadside slopes. A baseline simulation of the G2 system modelled on level ground is conducted, and the performance is compared with the results of a full-scale crash test. Results show good agreement. A series of G2 system models placed adjacent to 1:1, 2:1, 4:1, 6:1, 8:1, and 10:1 roadside slopes are then developed and the findings obtained from these simulations are compared. The results of the analysis substantiate the risk of vehicle instability when the roadside slope adjacent to the guardrail becomes steeper than 6:1 horizontal to vertical.