Finite-element modeling of guardrail timber posts and the post-soil interaction

The performance of many guardrail terminal systems is dependent on the strength of timber guardrail posts and soil conditions. Accurately simulating the breakaway characteristics of guardrail posts mounted in soils is an important issue concerning researchers in the roadside safety community. Finite-element analysis' is one method that can be used to evaluate roadside hardware designs, but good simulations are contingent on developing accurate models of the components. A description is provided of the development of a model of a breakaway timber post and soil system used in the breakaway cable terminal (BCT) and the modified eccentric loader terminal (MELT). The model is described and simulation results are compared with data from physical tests of BCT/MELT posts.