U08: Enhanced Finite Element Analysis Crash Model of Tractor-Trailers (Phase B)

Improved understanding of truck-infrastructure crashes will enable the highway community to improve barrier design, to further reduce the likelihood of vehicle-infrastructure fatalities and injuries, and to reduce highway congestion resulting from severe accidents. In collaboration with the TFHRC, the National Transportation Research Center, Inc., University Transportation Center (NTRCI) has taken an active role in enhancing industry understanding of truck-infrastructure crash behavior through funding the development and enhancement of advanced finite element (FE) computer simulation models of truck-infrastructure crashes. NTRCI is helping provide highway engineers with data to make better, more well-informed roadside infrastructure decisions that enhance the safety of the traveling public. The objective of this current investigation is to validate and enhance computer models of a tractor-semitrailer combination that will be used in analysis, design, and evaluation of roadside safety hardware. The research team is enhancing the overall fidelity of the tractor-semitrailer FE model by verifying vehicle failure modes from simulation against those from actual crash tests. This effort will enable the tractor-semitrailer FE model to provide more realistic predictions of crash performance and significantly reduce the need for costly full-scale truck testing. This report summarizes the results of the second phase (Phase B) of a three-phase program. In general terms, the plan for conducting this effort over three phases is as follows: 1. Phase A - Conduct an in-depth evaluation of the NCAC tractor only FE model, implement selected modifications, and develop a new trailer model. Phase B - Complete preliminary modification of combined tractor-semitrailer FE models, provide them to the FHWA Center of Excellence (COE) community for beta testing, and validate them against suitable full-scale crash tests. 3. Phase C - Refine the combined tractor-semitrailer FE models and develop an interactive, online FE model user's website and a User's Manual document to facilitate the use of the model.