Impact Attenuator Data.

Car # 61 Team MHSSC Racing

Dimensions of Impact Attenuator

Impact attenuator is a trapezoidal structure on the outside made of 2 mm thick
Aluminium sheet metal.

The dimensions are: Larger face: 330 mm * 280 mm

Smaller face : 280mm * 160mm

The attenuator is 220 mm long

The internal structure of the attenuator consists of a diamond comb structure,
constructed of 2mm thick Aluminium sheet metal. Each side of Diamond comb is
40mm
Impact Attenuator Analysis and Calculations
Mass m = 300 kg = 661.38 lbs ( 1kg = 2.2046 lbs )

Initial velocity, u = 7 m/s = 22.9656 ft/sec ( 1m/s = 3.2808 ft/s )

Final velocity, v = 0 m/s = 0 ft/s

Max. average distance required for deceleration permitted, a = 20g = 196.2.2 m/s
Minimum a vehicle to come to stop from a velocity of 7 m/s, with a uniform
deceleration of
a = 20 g = 196.2m/s.

v2 = u 2 + 2as
0 = ( 7 )2 - ( 2 * 196.2 ) * s
0 = 49-392.4 * s
s = 124.9mm

Similarly, Minimum distance required for a vehicle to come to stop from a velocity
of 7m/s, with uniform deceleration of
a = 15 g = 147.15 m/s, s,
v2 = u2 + 2as
0 = 72 – 2 * 147.15 * s
s = 166.5mm

Hence, minimum distance required to stop increases with a decrease in average

deceleration rate.

A mass of 300 kg ( 661lbs ) impacting a non yielding barrier, will exert a force,
proportional to its rate of deceleration .

Using Impulse - Momentum equations.

Change in momentum,
∆mV = force * time ---------- ( A )

Now,
∆mV = 300 * ( 7 - 0 ) = 2100kgm/s ----------- ( 1 )

Considering equation of motion ,

v = u + at

For a = 20g = 196.2m/s

0 = 7 - ( 196.2 * t )
t = 0.0357 sec
For a = 15 g = 147.15 m/s

0 = 7- ( 147.15 * t)
t = 0.04757 sec

Substituting value of t in RHS of eqn ( A ) and value of ∆mV in LHS of eqn ( A )

∆mV = force * t

For a = 20g

2100 = Force * 0.0357

Force, F = 58.823 kN

For a=15 g

2100 = Force * 0.0475

Force, F = 44.2105kN

From the above calculations it can be seen that, force exerted by the mass on
the barrier, decreases with decrease in deceleration rate.

Therefore, conclusively, the value of force the impact attenuator is able to

withstand experimentally, determines the rate of deceleration sustained by the
vehicle.

Experimental Observations :

Before:
After :

The graph plotted is of Force vs Displacement

The maximum force sustained is 47.63kN
Maximum displacement for this force sustained is 169.99 mm

∆mV = F * t
2100 = 47630 * t
t = 0.0441 sec

Acc to equation of motion:

v = u + at
0 = 7 - ( a * 0.0441 )
a =158.73 m/s = 16.180 g

v2 = u2 + 2as
0 = ( 7 )2 - ( 2 *158.73 ) * s
s= 154.4mm

As proved,
1. Average g sustained is 16.18 g
2. For this value of deceleration , the minimum crush length required is 154.4mm
while the attenuator is 220 mm long

Hence the dimensions of the attenuator are adequate.

Conclusion:

The above attenuator design complies to the prescribed rules.