Author(s)

John. F. Carney III

Abstract

Advanced computer and materials technologies are employed to develop reusable, maintenance-free roadside safety hardware. These devices dissipate large amounts of kinetic energy, undergo significant deformations and strains without fracturing, and regain their original shapes and energy dissipation potentials upon removal of the impact load. It is demonstrated that computer simulation is a cost effective design optimization tool whose use can reduce the number of expensive full scale crash tests required to develop new safety hardware. Introduction Accidents involving motor vehicles are a major worldwide health problem which constitutes a great economic and social loss to society. In the United States, for instance, the potential years of productive life that are lost before age 65 as a result of motor veh

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