Analysis and simplified modelling of simulation of tests for medium-duty truck collision with twin anti-ram bollards

Abstract

An actual test of medium-duty truck collision with twin anti-ram bollards of steel tube is analysed and simulated with different mass-spring-damper models to study bollard design requirements. Test data is obtained from test report of a medium-duty truck crashed into two fixed twin bollards at speed 78.3 km/h. Maximum impact load and impact height at that time is important in the analysis. Bollard height should be close to or larger than the vehicle's centre of gravity height to avoid climbing of the truck on the bollard. However, increasing impact height yields also increase in failure risk of bollard. Foundation is also critical in success of the bollard in successfully stopping the vehicle. The bollard should be fixed to the frame embedded in the concrete foundation so that the deformation in concrete be minimised. The bollard should be so stiff to stop the vehicle while most of the impact energy is absorbed by the vehicle through deformation of its frontal sections. A single-degree freedom linear mass-spring-damper model is the simplest model, but its results are not in line with test data. Single-degree non-linear model simulates the peak load but not the load history. However, using engine mass instead of truck mass in the single-degree model provides acceptable impact force data for the bollard. Two-degree freedom mass-spring damper linear model seems to simulate both truck's and bollard's deformation in a good manner. Non-linear analysis simulates the collision in a more realistic way, but it requires more data to be determined with testing.