{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/42299"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/42299","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Finite Element Modeling of Occupant Injury Risk and Crash Performance of W-Beam Guardrail Barriers in Roadside Crashes","abstract":"This thesis presents the results of a research effort aimed at investigating the crash performance of w-beam guardrail barriers in vehicle-roadside crashes using the finite element method. The developed roadside barrier models can be used to assess the occupant injury risk, vehicle performance, and damage to guardrail barriers during a roadside accident. The finite element models of w-beam guardrail barriers may also help evaluate the crash performance of the w-beam barriers with minor damage in vehicle-barrier crashes. Thus, the results can be used to develop repair guidelines to assist highway personnel in identifying levels of minor barrier damage and deterioration. Finite element models of the weak post w-beam guardrail barriers were developed and simulated using LS-DYNA. The simulation results were validated against full scale crash tests of pickup trucks and passenger cars impacting w-beam guardrail barriers. The maximum dynamic deflection of the guardrail, exit velocity and angle of the vehicle, and occupant injury risk were calculated and compared to the tests. Kinematics of the vehicle and guardrail were assessed qualitatively as well as quantitatively. The analysis showed that simulation results were in good agreement with test data. Additionally, the models were validated against pendulum tests conducted the Federal Outdoor Impact Laboratory (FOIL). Simulation results of pendulum tests showed that the test section taken from the current full scale models performed very similarly to that in the real pendulum tests. The developed finite element models were subsequently used to examine the crash performance of weak post w-beam guardrail barriers with minor damage under vehicle impacts. Only rail/post deflection based minor damage to weak post w-beam guardrail barriers was considered in this study. Simulations were completed to obtain the damaged profiles of the guardrail systems; the damaged weak post guardrail barriers were impacted by the pickup model at mid-span for the second time. The impacting vehicle remained stable in all of these simulations. No conclusions could be drawn however whether these second impacts could have resulted in rail tearing or rupture.","abstract_html":"This thesis presents the results of a research effort aimed at investigating the crash performance of w-beam guardrail barriers in vehicle-roadside crashes using the finite element method. The developed roadside barrier models can be used to assess the occupant injury risk, vehicle performance, and damage to guardrail barriers during a roadside accident. The finite element models of w-beam guardrail barriers may also help evaluate the crash performance of the w-beam barriers with minor damage in vehicle-barrier crashes. Thus, the results can be used to develop repair guidelines to assist highway personnel in identifying levels of minor barrier damage and deterioration. Finite element models of the weak post w-beam guardrail barriers were developed and simulated using LS-DYNA. The simulation results were validated against full scale crash tests of pickup trucks and passenger cars impacting w-beam guardrail barriers. The maximum dynamic deflection of the guardrail, exit velocity and angle of the vehicle, and occupant injury risk were calculated and compared to the tests. Kinematics of the vehicle and guardrail were assessed qualitatively as well as quantitatively. The analysis showed that simulation results were in good agreement with test data. Additionally, the models were validated against pendulum tests conducted the Federal Outdoor Impact Laboratory (FOIL). Simulation results of pendulum tests showed that the test section taken from the current full scale models performed very similarly to that in the real pendulum tests. The developed finite element models were subsequently used to examine the crash performance of weak post w-beam guardrail barriers with minor damage under vehicle impacts. Only rail/post deflection based minor damage to weak post w-beam guardrail barriers was considered in this study. Simulations were completed to obtain the damaged profiles of the guardrail systems; the damaged weak post guardrail barriers were impacted by the pickup model at mid-span for the second time. The impacting vehicle remained stable in all of these simulations. No conclusions could be drawn however whether these second impacts could have resulted in rail tearing or rupture.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Wang, Qian"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Biomedical Engineering","degree_department":"Biomedical Engineering","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Gabler, Hampton Clay"],"committee_members":["Hardy, Warren N.","Duma, Stefan M."],"year":2009,"date_issued":"2009-04-09","date_published":"2009-04-09","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:16Z","subjects":["Guardrail Barrier","Finite element method","Pendulum Test"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["etd-04272009-160957"],"render_values":[{"text":"etd-04272009-160957","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10919/42299","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Gabler, Hampton Clay"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Hardy, Warren N.","Duma, Stefan M."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Biomedical Engineering"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Wang, Qian"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2014-03-14T21:34:54Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2014-03-14T21:34:54Z","2009-05-22"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2009-04-09"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Biomedical Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Guardrail Barrier","Finite element method","Pendulum Test"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["etd-04272009-160957"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/42299"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This thesis presents the results of a research effort aimed at investigating the crash performance of w-beam guardrail barriers in vehicle-roadside crashes using the finite element method. The developed roadside barrier models can be used to assess the occupant injury risk, vehicle performance, and damage to guardrail barriers during a roadside accident. The finite element models of w-beam guardrail barriers may also help evaluate the crash performance of the w-beam barriers with minor damage in vehicle-barrier crashes. Thus, the results can be used to develop repair guidelines to assist highway personnel in identifying levels of minor barrier damage and deterioration. Finite element models of the weak post w-beam guardrail barriers were developed and simulated using LS-DYNA. The simulation results were validated against full scale crash tests of pickup trucks and passenger cars impacting w-beam guardrail barriers. The maximum dynamic deflection of the guardrail, exit velocity and angle of the vehicle, and occupant injury risk were calculated and compared to the tests. Kinematics of the vehicle and guardrail were assessed qualitatively as well as quantitatively. The analysis showed that simulation results were in good agreement with test data. Additionally, the models were validated against pendulum tests conducted the Federal Outdoor Impact Laboratory (FOIL). Simulation results of pendulum tests showed that the test section taken from the current full scale models performed very similarly to that in the real pendulum tests. The developed finite element models were subsequently used to examine the crash performance of weak post w-beam guardrail barriers with minor damage under vehicle impacts. Only rail/post deflection based minor damage to weak post w-beam guardrail barriers was considered in this study. Simulations were completed to obtain the damaged profiles of the guardrail systems; the damaged weak post guardrail barriers were impacted by the pickup model at mid-span for the second time. The impacting vehicle remained stable in all of these simulations. No conclusions could be drawn however whether these second impacts could have resulted in rail tearing or rupture."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Master of Science"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Finite Element Modeling of Occupant Injury Risk and Crash Performance of W-Beam Guardrail Barriers in Roadside Crashes"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Gabler, Hampton Clay"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Hardy, Warren N.","Duma, Stefan M."],"dc:contributor.department":["Biomedical Engineering"],"dc:creator":["Wang, Qian"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2014-03-14T21:34:54Z"],"dc:date.available":["2014-03-14T21:34:54Z","2009-05-22"],"dc:date.issued":["2009-04-09"],"dc:description.abstract":["This thesis presents the results of a research effort aimed at investigating the crash performance of w-beam guardrail barriers in vehicle-roadside crashes using the finite element method. The developed roadside barrier models can be used to assess the occupant injury risk, vehicle performance, and damage to guardrail barriers during a roadside accident. The finite element models of w-beam guardrail barriers may also help evaluate the crash performance of the w-beam barriers with minor damage in vehicle-barrier crashes. Thus, the results can be used to develop repair guidelines to assist highway personnel in identifying levels of minor barrier damage and deterioration. Finite element models of the weak post w-beam guardrail barriers were developed and simulated using LS-DYNA. The simulation results were validated against full scale crash tests of pickup trucks and passenger cars impacting w-beam guardrail barriers. The maximum dynamic deflection of the guardrail, exit velocity and angle of the vehicle, and occupant injury risk were calculated and compared to the tests. Kinematics of the vehicle and guardrail were assessed qualitatively as well as quantitatively. The analysis showed that simulation results were in good agreement with test data. Additionally, the models were validated against pendulum tests conducted the Federal Outdoor Impact Laboratory (FOIL). Simulation results of pendulum tests showed that the test section taken from the current full scale models performed very similarly to that in the real pendulum tests. The developed finite element models were subsequently used to examine the crash performance of weak post w-beam guardrail barriers with minor damage under vehicle impacts. Only rail/post deflection based minor damage to weak post w-beam guardrail barriers was considered in this study. Simulations were completed to obtain the damaged profiles of the guardrail systems; the damaged weak post guardrail barriers were impacted by the pickup model at mid-span for the second time. The impacting vehicle remained stable in all of these simulations. No conclusions could be drawn however whether these second impacts could have resulted in rail tearing or rupture."],"dc:description.degree":["Master of Science"],"dc:identifier.other":["etd-04272009-160957"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/42299"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["Guardrail Barrier","Finite element method","Pendulum Test"],"dc:title":["Finite Element Modeling of Occupant Injury Risk and Crash Performance of W-Beam Guardrail Barriers in Roadside Crashes"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Biomedical Engineering"],"thesis:degree_level":["masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:20:16Z"}