Analysis of passenger car crash with a cable barrier installed with anti-glare screens on a horizontal convex road curve with 400 m radius

Abstract

High-tension cable barriers have been used on roads for a relatively short period compared with other types of road barriers. Hence, there remains a need for further research on various crash scenarios. An important issue is the performance of a cable barrier on a road curve, particularly when a vehicle impacts the convex side of the barrier. To address this issue, the analysis in this study considers a system of anti-glare screens installed on a cable barrier that is often used on the horizontal curves of roads to protect drivers from the glare of the headlights of oncoming traffic. The responses of the cable barrier and car are evaluated based on a full-scale crash test and a numerical simulation. The forces in the cables during impact and the influence of the anti-glare screens on the behavior of the cables are also investigated. Additionally, an analysis of the energy absorbed by the car and barrier subparts is performed. This study confirmed that cable barriers work properly and provide the highest level of safety; the study also showed that cables have a significant safety margin and the posts contribute most toward the total dissipated energy.