Using LS-DYNA simulation to solve a design problem: bullnose guardrail example

JD Reid, BW Bielenberg - Transportation research record, 1999 - journals.sagepub.com
JD Reid, BW Bielenberg
Transportation research record, 1999journals.sagepub.com
A bullnose median barrier was designed and successfully crash tested head-on at 100 km/h
with a 2000-kg pickup truck. After a failed pickup truck test, LS-DYNA was used to simulate
the failed system, to determine the cause of the failure, and to evaluate a solution to the
problem. Subsequent testing substantiated the LS-DYNA predictions. To keep up with the
design project deadlines, some features of the simulation model were simplified. For other
features, however, great attention to detail was required to make a useful model …
A bullnose median barrier was designed and successfully crash tested head-on at 100 km/h with a 2000-kg pickup truck. After a failed pickup truck test, LS-DYNA was used to simulate the failed system, to determine the cause of the failure, and to evaluate a solution to the problem. Subsequent testing substantiated the LS-DYNA predictions. To keep up with the design project deadlines, some features of the simulation model were simplified. For other features, however, great attention to detail was required to make a useful model. Specifically, a considerable amount of effort went into defining the material failure criteria and appropriate mesh density for the guardrail, rolling tires for the truck model, and application of the relatively new cable element in LS-DYNA. The simulation effort is documented to demonstrate how LS-DYNA can be used to solve difficult design problems in roadside safety applications.
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