Guardrail end terminals and roadside crash cushions are common technologies deployed to absorb and redirect the energy of a colliding vehicle. The purpose of these devices is to reduce damage to structures and vehicles while limiting the effects these collisions have on motorists. The primary mode of energy absorption of these structures is through physical deformation. This physical deformation can often create hazardous scenarios for vehicle occupants. This paper shows the study of a new (patent pending) crash attenuator composed of a multi-chambered, fluid-filled barrier. Kinetic energy of the colliding vehicle is transferred to the fluid and through the internal structure. As fluid moves through the structure, energy is dissipated through viscous friction; therefore, reducing the peak forces experienced by the vehicle and its occupants and reducing damage to the structure and the vehicle. Experiments were conducted using a mechanical ram to impact a dual-chambered cylindrical plastic container partially filled with water. The impact event was recorded using a high-speed camera and the acceleration impulse was measured using an accelerometer attached to the ram. The results of this study show that the addition of interior chambers and fluid decreased the reaction forces by nearly 50% and a two-fold increase in energy absorbing efficiency as compared to an empty structure. Analytical and numerical approaches were used to assess the energy dissipation due to plastic deformation of the structure. The addition of fluid and internal chamber reduced the plastic deformation of the sample by 9.1% as compared to the empty structure. This confirms the ability of the present structure to maintain low reaction forces while reducing damage to the structure and in turn increasing barrier lifetime. The present barrier technology can potentially replace existing guardrail end terminal and crash cushion systems and due to its small footprint, can be utilized in areas where traditional systems cannot be deployed due to space constraints.

护栏末端终端和路边防撞垫是常用技术，用于吸收和重定向碰撞车辆的能量。这些设备的目的是减少对结构和车辆的损坏，同时限制这些碰撞对驾驶者的影响。这些结构吸收能量的主要方式是通过物理变形。这种物理变形通常会给车辆乘员带来危险的情况。本文展示了对一种新的（正在申请专利的）碰撞衰减器的研究，该衰减器由多腔、充满流体的屏障组成。碰撞车辆的动能通过内部结构传递给流体。当流体通过结构时，能量通过粘性摩擦耗散；所以，减少车辆及其乘员承受的峰值力，并减少对结构和车辆的损坏。使用机械锤撞击部分装满水的双腔圆柱形塑料容器进行实验。使用高速摄像机记录撞击事件，并使用连接到撞锤的加速度计测量加速度脉冲。这项研究的结果表明，与空结构相比，增加内腔和流体使反作用力降低了近 50%，能量吸收效率提高了两倍。分析和数值方法用于评估由于结构塑性变形引起的能量耗散。流体和内腔的加入使样品的塑性变形减少了9。1% 与空结构相比。这证实了本结构保持低反作用力同时减少对结构的损坏并进而增加势垒寿命的能力。目前的屏障技术可以潜在地取代现有的护栏末端终端和防撞垫系统，并且由于其占地面积小，可以用于由于空间限制而无法部署传统系统的区域。