Patent ID: 6142452
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: E01F

Abstract:
A highway guardrail comprising an elongated metal beam, said beam deining a longitudinal direction and a beam width measured transverse to the logitudinal direction, said beam comprising two edges extending along the longitudinal direction and at least one ridge extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction and located substantially inwardly of the edges, each ridge comprising a peak that forms a ridge line extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction throughout a length along the longitudinal direction that is substantially greater than said beam width, said beam having a rigidity adapted to deflect an automobile that has left a roadway and comprising a set of weakened regions extending at least partially across the beam, said weakened regions oriented obliquely to the longitudinal direction to form an elongated fold region at which the beam tends to buckle when subjected to a sufficiently large column load, said folding region providing a preferred direction of folding for the guardrail in an axial impact, said fold region oriented obliquely to thee longitudinal direction and operative to reduce any tendency of a rearward portion of the guardrail to move upwardly as the guardrail buckles.