Safety barriers and the influence of changing impact parameters – A simulation-based parameter study with an SUV and different steel safety barriers

Safety barriers in Europe are tested according to DIN EN 1317 using standardized vehicle impact tests to ensure safety and comparability. However, previous studies indicate that the current test strategy no longer fully represents real-world accident occurrences, particularly with respect to vehicle characteristics. In particular, modern vehicle fleets include a growing proportion of sport utility vehicles (SUVs), which are not adequately represented in current impact tests, especially in terms of mass and vehicle segment. This study investigates the influence of SUVs on the performance of steel safety barriers by means of numerical simulations and compares the results with the standardized test strategy defined in DIN EN 1317. The results show that, depending on the barrier type, the working width increases by up to 60% for EDSP and 75% for ESP at higher impact angles due to increased vehicle penetration. In contrast, the acceleration severity index decreases by up to 19% for an H4b steel barrier with increasing impact mass. No system failure was observed; however, a tendency for vehicle rollover was identified, particularly at higher impact angles for ESP and EDSP systems. Overall, the results demonstrate that the currently underrepresented SUV vehicle segment significantly influences key performance indicators. The results provide quantitative evidence for the need to extend existing test parameters and support future revisions of DIN EN 1317.