This paper presents the results of a three-dimensional finite element simulation study to analyse the crashworthiness of a modified thrie-beam guard-rail during vehicle impacts. In this study, a model of a compact automobile (model 820C vehicle, provided by the FHWA) impacting a model of a modified thrie-beam guardrail (developed at the University of Mississippi) at 100.6 kdhour has been employed. The simulated results of the 820C vehicle impact at an angle of 15 degrees showed better comparison with the results obtained from the actual crash tests. The study was extended to simulate the event of a C2500 pickup truck impacting the modified thrie-beam guard-rail model. The maximum computed deflections of the guard-rail were 307 mrn and 500 mm respectively for the 820C car model and the reduced pickup truck model. Further, a simulation of the impact of a detailed pickup truck model under the same impact condition was conducted. The simulation results indicate that the guardrail model was performing properly and as expected and the two pickup truck models were redirected after impact and left the guardrail without any significant problem. The results demonstrate the significant computational efficiency of the reduced pickup truck model for crashworthiness simulations.
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