Date of Award:

8-2025

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Committee Chair(s)

Mohsen Zaker Esteghamati

Committee

Mohsen Zaker Esteghamati

Committee

Marv Halling

Committee

Srishti Banerji

Committee

Juhyeong Lee

Committee

Andrew Sorensen

Abstract

Highway safety is a major concern as roads accommodate increasing numbers of vehicles, including large trucks and tractor-trailers. Concrete barriers are commonly used along highways and bridges to prevent accidents by redirecting vehicles and protecting important structures like bridge piers. However, their effectiveness depends on how well they withstand vehicle impacts, how they perform after being damaged in previous crashes, and how they protect bridge piers when space is limited. This research examines these issues using advanced computer simulations to better understand barrier performance and improve roadway safety.

The first part of this study reviews how researchers and engineers use computer simulations to test concrete barriers instead of relying solely on costly and time-consuming full-scale crash tests. These simulations performed using finite element analysis software, help predict how barriers behave in different impact conditions and guide safer barrier designs.

The second part of the study focuses on how barriers hold up after multiple impacts. In real-world scenarios, a barrier may be hit more than once before being repaired or replaced. This research simulates crashes with large trucks striking barriers in sequence and finds that barriers may weaken significantly after an initial impact, increasing the risk of failure in subsequent crashes. The findings help transportation agencies determine when a barrier is still safe to use and when it should be repaired or replaced.

The third part examines how barriers can better protect bridge piers from large vehicle impacts, especially in space-limited areas. Barriers placed too close or attached to piers may transfer impact forces directly to the structure, increasing the risk of damage, while barriers placed too far away may fail to fully prevent vehicle intrusion. This study explores how barrier height, placement, and spacing affect their ability to shield bridge piers, leading to recommendations for improving national bridge safety guidelines.

By advancing the understanding of barrier performance in real-world crash conditions, this research helps engineers, policymakers, and transportation agencies improve road safety standards. The findings contribute to developing stronger, more effective barriers that enhance highway and bridge safety for all road users.

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Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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