Assessment of the Effectiveness of Different Safety Measures at Tunnel Lay-Bys and Portals to Protect Occupants in Passenger Cars

Ernst Tomasch,Wolfgang Sinz,Gregor Gstrein,Hermann Steffan,Simon Franz Heindl

doi:10.3390/infrastructures6060081

Ernst Tomasch, Wolfgang Sinz + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures6060081

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Journal: Infrastructures	Publication Date: May 26, 2021
Citations: 2	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Graz University of Technology

Abstract

Tunnel portals and tunnel lay-bys are hazardous spots for road users. Different infrastructure safety measures are in use, but the protection level is not known. In this study the following safety measures for reducing the injury risk are investigated: angular positioned 4 m and 8 m concrete barrier, crash cushion Alpina F1-50 and Alpina <prototype> crash cushion. A passenger car equipped with a data acquisition unit is accelerated to 100 km/h and impacts the safety measure. The assessment of the latter is based on the EN 1317 criteria, specifically the Acceleration Severity Index (ASI), Theoretical Head Impact Velocity (THIV). Further assessment criteria are related to intrusions into the passenger compartment and post-crash motion. The best result in terms of ASI and THIV was achieved by the 8 m (ASI: 1.6, THIV: 30 km/h) concrete barrier. The crash cushion Alpina <prototype> showed good results for the ASI (1.8) but the THIV (57 km/h) was less satisfactory, while the angular positioned 4 m concrete barrier (ASI: 2.9, THIV: 53 km/h) and the crash cushion Alpina F1-50 (ASI: 3.3, THIV: 74 km/h) performed worst. Even though some of the measures showed good results, no protection measure tested currently complies with all the assessment criteria used.

Highlights

Pedro Arias-SánchezThe EU-Directive 2004/54/EG defines minimum tunnel safety requirements to improve the accident situation in tunnels [1]
At the side of the test area concrete barriers were positioned to prevent the vehicle from leaving the test site
The top of the concrete barrier had a contact with the end-wall of the tunnel lay-by due to the impact

Summary

Introduction

The EU-Directive 2004/54/EG defines minimum tunnel safety requirements to improve the accident situation in tunnels [1]. For new bi-directional tunnels exceeding a length of 1500 m with a traffic volume higher than 2000 vehicles per lane, lay-bys are mandatory if no emergency lane is present. In existing tunnels the feasibility and effectiveness of the implementation of lay-bys is to be evaluated. No design guideline for tunnel lay-bys and end-wall protection, is included in the directive. In cases where the end-wall of a tunnel lay-by or tunnel portal is not well designed in particular (Figure 1), these are critical spots on the road in the event of a vehicle collision. Vehicles are massively damaged and intrusions into the passenger compartment are very likely to take place

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Conclusion