Abstract: Apparatus for absorbing energy when impacted by a vehicle includes relatively movable vertical, spaced supports supporting modules extending between the supports. At least one of the modules has elongated openings formed therein which define deformable module side wall strips located between the module ends. These module side wall strips bend in response to application of opposed forces to the module ends.

Abstract: Apparatus for absorbing energy when impacted by a vehicle includes relatively movable vertical, spaced supports supporting modules extending between the supports. At least one of the modules has elongated openings formed therein which define deformable module side wall strips located between the module ends. These module side wall strips bend in response to application of opposed forces to the module ends.

Abstract: Apparatus for absorbing energy when impacted by a vehicle includes a plurality of vertical, spaced supports. Positioned between the supports are energy absorbing, collapsible, pressurizable modules having two connected module segments. Each module segment has an outer wall in the form of a truncated cone extending away from an end of the energy absorbing module and diverging outwardly in the direction of the other module segment.

Abstract: A traffic barrier includes a plurality of attached modules containing liquid. The modules can be modified to provide different levels of impact resistance performance when impacted by a vehicle.

Abstract: A guardrail includes an array of vehicle-deflecting rails secured to an array of posts extending along a roadway. An impact-receiving element is slidably mounted to the forward end of the array of rails, and this impact-receiving element includes a vehicle-engaging portion having a first frontal area that is substantially greater than a second frontal area characteristic of the first end of the array of rails. A column is interposed between a forward portion of the impact-receiving element and the first post to apply initial compressive forces in a collision directly to the first post.

Abstract: A highway guardrail includes an elongated metal plate that forms at least one ridge. The plate includes weakened regions extending at least partially across the plate, and these weakened regions are oriented obliquely to the longitudinal direction to form at least one elongated fold region at which the plate tends to buckle when subjected to a sufficiently large column load. This fold region is oriented obliquely to the longitudinal direction to push the forward end of the guardrail downwardly in an axial collapse. The forward end of the guardrail includes a cable that passes through an opening in the forward support post. A split washer is positioned around this cable adjacent to the forward support post. The split washer includes first and second load transferring members that readily separate from one another after the first support post breaks at the opening in an axial impact.

Abstract: A highway guardrail includes an elongated metal plate that forms at least one ridge. The plate includes weakened regions extending at least partially across the plate, and these weakened regions are oriented obliquely to the longitudinal direction to form at least one elongated fold region at which the plate tends to buckle when subjected to a sufficiently large column load. This fold region is oriented obliquely to the longitudinal direction to push the forward end of the guardrail downwardly in an axial collapse. The forward end of the guardrail includes a cable that passes through an opening in the forward support post. A split washer is positioned around this cable adjacent to the forward support post. The split washer includes first and second load transferring members that readily separate from one another after the first support post breaks at the opening in an axial impact.

Abstract: An energy absorbing device for use alongside a roadway to decelerate an impacting vehicle includes first and second elements. The first element extends in an axial direction and includes a threaded portion that defines a multitude of projecting ridges. The second element is movable relative to the first element in the axial direction, and the first and second elements are sized to create an interference fit such that relative axial movement of the second element applies a shear load to the first element to progressively deform successive ones of the projecting elements. This progressive deformation of the projecting elements retards relative axial movement between the first and second elements.

Abstract: An array of inertial barriers positioned on a support surface alongside a vehicle roadway includes a number of separate containers, each having an outer wall and a lower portion. An inner core is positioned within each container to define an annular space between the core and the respective outer wall. This annular space defines an average inner diameter which is at least about 20% of the average outer diameter of the annular space. A dispersible material such as sand is disposed in the annular spaces such that no more than 10% of the mass of sand in any container of the array extends in an uninterrupted disc across the respective container.

Abstract: A highway barrier includes a collapsible guardrail assembly and a rotatable beam which is mounted between the rearward end of the guardrail assembly and a roadside hazard. The collapsible guardrail assembly includes a plurality of overlapping panels, adjacent ones of which are secured together by fasteners riding in slots. The fasteners are designed to retain the panels together after the impact and the fasteners are positioned with respect to the panels to cause the panels to tend to rotate away from the roadside during the impact, thereby redirecting the vehicle away from the roadway. The beam is rotatably mounted to the roadside hazard by a band and the forward end of the beam as well as the forward end of each of the panels is supported above the ground on a respective slip base designed to release in response to axial forces and to resist lateral forces.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted crash attenuator includes an array of parallel diaphragms. A set of cell assemblies is interposed between adjacent diaphragms, and each cell assembly is formed of two L-shaped sheet metal components which are riveted together to form a rectangular column extending between the adjacent diaphragms. These columns are cross braced by ribbed braces which extend diagonally between adjacent columns. These cross braces stabilize the columns against long column buckling and promote short column buckling, thereby increasing the energy absorbing capability of the columns.

Abstract: An energy absorbing apparatus is provided to dissipate the energy of an impacting vehicle. An energy absorbing sheet having a plurality of expanded cells is wrapped at least partially around a rounded hazard, or an adaptor attached to a non-rounded hazard. When secured to a rounded hazard, or the adaptor, each cell defines a longitudinal space having a cross-sectional diameter that is smaller nearest the hazard or adaptor and larger away from the hazard or adaptor. A plurality of sheets may be used in a stacked relationship to provide a shear plane.

Abstract: A guardrail end terminal including a plurality of nested fender panels and a redirecting cable for urging the fender panels laterally in response to an axial impact force. The fender panels are supported on vertical legs which are attached to slip bases and are designed to telescope in response to an axial impact force. The redirecting cable is designed to pass through the leg of the first panel and extend away from the leg at an acute angle. The panel legs and cable cooperate to direct the nose of the impacting vehicle away from the unyielding guardrail while at the same time dissipating the energy of the vehicle.

Abstract: An energy absorbing apparatus is provided to dissipate the energy of the impact force of a vehicle. A plurality of energy absorbing sheets are arranged in a stacked relation to resist the impact force and to thereby dissipate the energy of the force. Each sheet has a honeycomb structure of hexagonal cells that are filled with a deformable material such as polyurethane foam and that are defined by walls of relatively rigid material. In operation, an impact force is applied to the stack of energy absorbing sheets and each sheet is thereby caused to cut or shear into its abutting sheet so that at least a portion of the energy of the impact force is dissipated. As the stacked sheets cut into one another, the energy of the force is further dissipated by the compression of the polyurethane foam of the sheets.