Retrofit of an existing Italian bridge rail for H4a containment level using simulation

This paper describes the methodology for the development of a crashworthy heavy containment bridge rail for the Italian Highway System. The current design was determined to be inadequate for heavy vehicle containment and could not be demolished due to damage risk to bridge superstructure. Italian Highway Agency has decided to retrofit the current design. Two different bridge rail models are developed and analysed using 30 ton heavy vehicle according to European EN1317 Test TB71 requirements. Detailed finite element analyses are performed to evaluate the acceptability of retrofit alternatives. A versatile, highly non-linear and widely accepted finite element program LS-DYNA is used to simulate the crash events. Analysis results show that the final bridge rail model successfully contains and redirects the 30 ton vehicle and it is found to be an acceptable retrofit to existing bridge rail design. A full-scale crash test is recommended to substantiate simulation findings. Copyright © 2009 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.