Analysis of the affects of wind from vehicle movement on road signs and the guidepost structure straddling the road surface using the finite element methodology
Abstract:
The research presents an analysis of the impact of wind generated by moving vehicles on traffic signs and the structure of guideposts straddling the road surface using a finite element methodology. The analysis was performed to determine the distribution of stress and strain and to study the deformation pattern of the traffic guidepost structure due to vehicle-induced gusts on the road. Standards for the traffic pole structure, which have been established as a standard plan by the Department of Highways were adopted. That is, the poles were 8 meters high; the length between the poles was 20 meters; and the width, height, and thickness of large traffic signs were 6, 3, and 0.003 meters, respectively. The load on the structure of the traffic guidepost poles was the force due to the weight of the structure and the force from the wind generated by the movement of the vehicle defined as a truck because of its highest cross-sectional area and ability to cause the highest wind force. Trucks passing through traffic signs had the speed of the vehicles moving on the road according to the standard speed limits of 90 and 120 km/h. An additional analysis was provided in case of speed exceeding the standard of 150 km/h. The conditions of the simulation were the cross-sectional size of the actual truck on the road, the passing speed of vehicles causing the wind to collide with the traffic signs affecting the structure of the traffic poles, and the size of the traffic signs. This was according to the standards of the Department of Highways regarding the structure of traffic guidepost poles straddling the traffic surface. The analysis results showed that the factors affecting the distribution of stress and strain arose from the force. This was because the weight of the structure was greater than the force arising from passing vehicles even when running at speeds exceeding the standard. The stress and strain would occur the most with the maximum force applied at the joint of the steel truss crossbeams with a maximum value of not more than 200 MPa, and a safety value was approximately 1.2-1.4.