Low‐Maintenance Rubber Crash Cushion
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 116, Issue 3
Abstract
The present research was aimed at development of a low‐maintenance crash cushion utilizing reusable rubber elements. Energy dissipation characteristics of full‐scale hollow circular rubber cylinders was investigated through static and dynamic testing. Effects of clustering cylindrical elements on energy dissipation was also examined through dynamic testing. A full‐scale prototype crash cushion was constructed from a cluster of rubber cylinders formed from a natural rubber (NR) product containing a 20% ethylene‐propylene‐diene monomer (EPDM) blend and subjected to a series of vehicular crash tests. Although unexpected failures in the rubber cylinders prevented acceptance of the prototype cushion in terms of recommended impact performance criteria, the failures were attributed to a mandrel‐wrapping process for which a compression‐mold process can be substituted. A low‐maintenance rubber crash cushion is technically and economically feasible and can reduce life‐cycle costs by 60% or more at high‐accident locations. Further development is therefore recommended.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 116 • Issue 3 • May 1990
Pages: 359 - 376
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 ASCE.
History
Published online: May 1, 1990
Published in print: May 1990
Authors
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