Simulation of a Vehicle Impacting a Modified Thrie-Beam Guardrail

A three-dimensional finite-element simulation study, developed for the purpose of modeling the event of a compact automobile impacting a modified thrie-beam guardrail, is presented. The developed computational model has been used to simulate an actual field test that was previously conducted as part of a full-scale crash test program carried out under the auspices of FHWA. Results of the actual crash test are also used to "tune" the simulation model.