Goel, Sarvesh (2020-07). Testing and Evaluation of Large Signs Slipbase Support on Slope at Mash Test Level 3 Impact Conditions. Master's Thesis.
Thesis
Breakaway support in large signs slipbase system is designed to lessen the impact on a vehicle if struck and thereby minimize injury to occupants and damage to vehicles. Several research studies are conducted related to breakaway devices but most of them are tested on flat level ground. In most of the states in the United States, it is common practice to install large signs in ditches along the highway. It is not known how the breakaway system will perform under the impact on sloped terrain. For this type of system, the mounting height of the post is greater than the system mounted on flat level ground. Certain other factors such as the geometry of the slope and encroachment speed and angle also influence the trajectory of the vehicle on traversing the slope. In this research, a poll was conducted for the Department of Transportation agencies to identify the most common design details of the sign support breakaway devices to be considered for further investigation. Engineering and finite element analysis were performed to investigate the crashworthiness performance of the considered system. The research also investigated the practical and utilized installation conditions for large breakaway sign support on sloped terrain and will determine the most critical characteristics within the envelope of conditions. A full-scale crash test was conducted on the flat-level ground according to Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware Test Level 3 guidelines. As an extension of the research project, multiple other full-scale crash tests will be conducted, and the sign support system will be modified and validated based on the computer impact simulation and full-scale crash test results.
