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crash test carried out (in 2001) to prove the performance of the first prototype of the composite guard rail |
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Guard rails (safety barriers, safety fences, guide rails) that are currently installed can be divided into steel flexible systems and concrete barriers. Steel systems can be relative safe for passenger cars. However, most of these systems are not capable of containing heavier lorries causing serious danger to other traffic. The concrete barriers, capable of containing the heavier lorries are less safe for smaller vehicles resulting in higher numbers of injury accidents. Colliding motorcyclists are not protected at all.
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ECOSAFE guard rail (rear view) |
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ECOSAFE was a project (1997-2001) in the European FP4 Brite/Euram programme aiming at removing these blocks to facilitate wider application of composites in road furniture.
The overall objective of ECOSAFE was to improve roadside safety systems by the versatile use of composite materials in these systems. More specifically ECOSAFE lead to the development of roadside safety systems which have the following benefits:
- Improved safety for road users.
- Improved reliability, durability, maintenance and cost-effectiveness based on a life cycle analysis.
- Improved safety and working conditions for road maintenance personnel (easier installing due to lower weight, also leading to fewer traffic jams).
- Lower impact on the environment during its life-cycle than current steel systems (the leaching of zinc from steel guide rails is a source of heavy metal polution in the environment).
The final result was a guard rail system system validated using the European standard EN 12767. It was reviewed from a technical performance and economic competitive point of view. If you like to read further about this development, please download the (old) tilting_bird_report.pdf paper! The system's principle is protected by world wide patents.
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Crash test with ECOSAFE guard rail |
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Lightweight Structures B.V. currently focuses on re-engineering and up-dating of the system, starting with the pultruded beam. LS-Dyna crash simulations and static and dynamic testing are used to optimise the geometry of the beam and the functioning of the whole system. The aim is a better and more cost-efficient system that fully consists of pultrusion profiles. We seek international marketing & sales partners and manufacturing partners.
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