Citation

Capuano FA, Heymsfield E, Li N. Int. J. Crashworthiness 2018; 23(6): 618-626.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13588265.2017.1368120

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Each year road accidents claim numerous lives involving run away trucks unable to stop on steep declines. Various passive arresting systems, commonly known as truck escape ramps, are installed on dangerous highway declines to promote highway safety. Truck escape ramps can be divided into three categories: gravity escape ramps, sand or gravel ramps, and arrestor bed escape ramps. However, none of these solutions can control and/or predict the behaviour of a vehicle during the deceleration process within the truck escape ramp. Secondary accidents such as rolling over or rolling back can occur due to the uncontrollable nature during truck deceleration on the truck escape ramp. Existing rescue solutions for the truck after it is arrested in the truck escape ramp often requires complicated procedures with corresponding high costs to remove the captured vehicle and passengers. This paper presents an alternative vehicle arresting system consisting of variable sized prefabricated deformable units made using cementitious materials. Each deformable unit is an independent block and deforms upon truck tire contact. Consequently, the system generates a predictable force that acts opposite to the vehicle motion direction.

RESULTS of a 40-ton heavy-duty truck traveling at a 56 km/hr entry speed without braking are included.

Language: en

Keywords

arresting system; arrestor bed; total stopping distance; Truck escape ramp