Roadmap for crashworthiness finite element simulation of roadside safety structures

Abstract The subject of this investigation to develop an accurate simulation of truck impacting a strong-post W-beam guardrail. Detailed methods for system simulation are proposed and three major issues which involve the use of springs to simulate component crashworthiness behavior is investigated. Rail to blockout bolt connection, soil–post dynamic interaction, and the effect of guardrail ends are modeled and simulated. Soil–post interaction is modeled using both Lagrangian and Eulerian meshes; results using the two methods are presented. The present paper provides a roadmap for simulation of highway safety structures.