Safety Performance Evaluation of a Novel Portable Concrete Barrier Based on Vehicle Impact Test

Portable concrete barriers (PCBs) are modular structures widely used to separate traffic lanes from construction zones. However, these barriers often exhibit insufficient structural safety to effectively block intruding vehicles, leading to severe casualties. Appropriate structural design and experimental verification are required to prevent damage to the PCB structure. Existing domestic specifications lack explicit provisions regarding the structural design and load-bearing capacity of PCBs, presenting a critical bottleneck for the engineering application of temporary traffic barriers. To mitigate this limitation, a novel PCB was developed featuring a pre-embedded rectangular steel tube and I-beam joint, coupled with a single-slope cross-section (1200 mm in height), to satisfy the SB-level safety performance criteria specified in relevant standards. Distinct from conventional finite element simulation approaches, two full-scale vehicle impact tests were subsequently performed to verify the structural safety of the barrier. Experimental results demonstrate that the newly designed barrier can withstand vehicle impacts, meeting the SB protection level, with its containment, redirection, and energy absorption capabilities complying with relevant specification criteria. This study is anticipated to establish a foundational dataset for subsequent research in the field.