Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
First Advisor
Mojdeh Asadollahi Pajouh
Committee Members
Ronald K. Faller, Joshua Steelman
Date of this Version
5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Citation
A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science
Major: Civil Engineering
Under the supervision of Professor Mojdeh Asadollahi Pajouh
Lincoln, Nebraska, May 2025
Abstract
This thesis presents a study on the crashworthiness of two commonly-used roadside safety devices: Type II barricades and luminaire poles supported by TB1-17 transformer bases. The first part focuses on designing and evaluating a non-proprietary, Type II barricade that meets MASH criteria. A validated LS-DYNA model, based on a previously-tested Type III barricade, was used to guide the design. The proposed Type II system was evaluated through simulation and confirmed with full-scale crash testing. The second part of the study investigates luminaire poles supported by the TB1-17 transformer base. A previously-developed LS-DYNA model was updated and validated using test No. TBLP3. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of base thickness, material properties, and bolt preload. A matrix of pole configurations was then simulated to identify systems that meet the MASH longitudinal Occupant Impact Velocity (OIV) limit of 16 ft/s. Both weak- and strong-base scenarios were considered, along with a ±20% error margin to account for modeling and construction uncertainties. Regression analysis was used to assess the role of pole characteristics, such as weight, center of gravity, and moment of inertia. The results showed that while pole geometry affects crash response, base properties remain the most critical factor.
Advisor: Mojdeh Asadollahi Pajouh
Comments
Copyright 2025, Mohammadreza Rajaee. Used by permission