SR

Crash Test Report & Videos


Image Sequence from Crash Test of Mobile Barriers MBT-1®.

Mobile Barriers MBT-1® provides 42-102 feet (12-31 meters) of highly mobile positive barrier protection with minimal deflection. The MBT-1® is tested, accepted, & Federal Aid Eligible under NCHRP 350 & MASH for TL-2 and TL-3 for use on the National Highway System (NHS). Additional crash test photos available here.

The MBT-1® was accepted both for TL-2 use in low speed situations, where for example, vehicular traffic is moving at speeds of 43 mph (70 km/hr) or less, and for the even more challenging TL-3 use, such as for the much higher speeds typically encountered on interstates and in many situations.

From the crash video and report, it can be seen that MBT-1® not only met the NCHRP 350 & MASH criteria for high speed impacts - it did so very well. The crash vehicle’s occupant risk values were calculated at only a fraction of the allowable limits and there was no damage or intrusions into the passenger compartment.


"[The barrier itself] 'did not experience any structural damage. The wall plates were not torn, punctured, or gouged. The test vehicle did not snag the wall panels and the vehicle impact did not create any snag points for future vehicle impacts. The only evident damage to the wall plates was aesthetic, where the test vehicle’s paint and tires made marks on the barrier. The wheels scratched the barrier, but the wall panels remained smooth.'”

"The MBT is a semi-rigid vertical wall with relatively low friction characteristics that can be favorably compared to vertical concrete barrier walls that passed prior full-scale testing.”



Documents

Crash Test Notes: Deflection
  • The MBT-1® was crash tested at its maximum length of 102 ft [31 m] (3 wall sections) using a 5134 lb (2329 kg) pickup truck at 23.5 degrees and 63 mph (102.3 km/hr) to represent a worse-case scenerio. Under these test parameters and at its maximum length of 102 ft (31 m), the MBT-1® had only 2.0 ft (0.61 m) of maximum dynamic lateral deflection.
  • A shorter barrier impacted at a lower speed and angle will have significantly less deflection. For example, 6 inches (15 cm) or less of deflection is estimated based on 1 wall section and reduced speeds.
  • Deflection can be roughly estimated in proportion to the number of wall sections (i.e. 1/3 or 2/3 reduction for 1 or 2 wall sections respectively) as well as speed, mass, and angle.
Crash Test Report Notes: Configuration
  • The MBT-1® must be used with a tractor (or dolly) under the front.
Crash Test Report Notes: Deflection
  • The MBT-1® was crash tested at its maximum length of 102 ft [31 m] (3 wall sections) using a 5134 lb (2329 kg) pickup truck at 23.5 degrees and 63 mph (102.3 km/hr) to represent a worse-case scenerio. Under these test parameters and at its maximum length of 102 ft (31 m), the MBT-1® had only 2.0 ft (0.61 m) of maximum dynamic lateral deflection.
  • A shorter barrier impacted at a lower speed and angle will have significantly less deflection. For example, 6 inches (15 cm) or less of deflection is estimated based on 1 wall section and reduced speeds.
  • Deflection can be roughly estimated in proportion to the number of wall sections (i.e. 1/3 or 2/3 reduction for 1 or 2 wall sections respectively) as well as speed, mass, and angle.



Crash Test Videos

Crash Test Report Notes: Configuration
  • The MBT-1® must be used with a tractor (or dolly) under the front.






More Resources...