SBIR-STTR Award

Due to the downsizing of automobiles on U.S. highways, mini-cars have become a major part of the auto population. The light weight and high crush rate of these vehicles can cause high velocity change levels when impacting most existing breakaway luminaire supports. This increases the probability of injury to occupants of mini-cars when impacting luminaire supports. Concepts have been developed which can substantially reduce the breakaway energy requirements of luminaire supports. These concepts will be analyzed and a concept selected for further development. A prototype will be fabricated and tested to determine breakaway performance in an 1800 lb mini-car test.

The trend toward smaller cars in the U.S. has increased the risk of occupant injury in roadside appurtenance accidents. Tests of 1800 lb mini-cars have shown that most current breakaway hardware for luminaire supports do not meet current AASHTO specifications for breakaway performance. All new breakaway hardware installed after July 1990 must meet the AASHTO Specs. Many manufacturers have been unsuccessful in developing hardware that meets current specifications. In particular the poular transformer bases and large supports have posed major problems. In phase I of this proposed effort Adian Engineering developed breakaway hardware that was shown in tests to provide excellent breakaway performance and to offer solutions to the current design problems. Two designs were developed that will provide a transformer base design and a solution for large supports that meet AASHTO specifications. This Phase III proposal details a plan for developing these devices into production hardware to reduce the risk to small car occupants in luminaire support impacts. Adian will work with a respected luminaire support manufacturer to insure a quality, acceptable breakaway support for highway use.Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications of Results:This Phase II project will result in breakaway luminaire supports that fill two critical gaps in the existing array of acceptable hardware. This hardware is needed to allow highway agencies to specify all types of supports to meet the requirements of the site. This includes high mount poles and poles with transformer bases that reduce damage to impacted poles and allow their reuse.