MPC Research Reports
Report Details

Title:	Highly Flexible Crash Barriers
Authors:	Paul Heyliger, John Kienholz, Charlie McLean, and Fernando Ramirez
University:	Colorado State University
Publication Date:	Jun 2004
Report #:	MPC-04-162
Project #:	MPC-235
TRID #:	00978845
Keywords:	elastic bodies, frames, nonlinear equations, numerical analysis, structure or device, tests specific to a material, wood products

Abstract

A preliminary study modeling the nonlinear behavior of long, slender wooden members was conducted at Colorado State University for the purpose of their use in inexpensive, destroyable crash barriers. This preliminary study compared the results of physical test data, published exact solutions, and the solutions of a numerical model all with respect to simple, two-dimensional elastica frames.
The results have varying levels of agreement that nonetheless give credibility to the performance of the numerical method. The research shows that the numerical model is ready to be expanded to model three-dimensional elastica frames.