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K50 Crash TestingInfrastructure Defense Technologies wanted to determine if the Metalith anti-ram vehicle barriers could also withstand the impact of the so-called "K50 Test", an extension and increase of the U.S. Department of State's K12 test. The theoretical K50 test would require a barrier to arrest a 65,000 lb truck traveling at 50 mph and impacting the barrier at 90 degrees. On December 9th, 2005, Sandia National Laboratories' personnel conducted a test for the Technical Support Working Group (TSWG), to determine if the Metalith crash barriers could meet this "K50" standard.
Texas Transportation InstituteSandia National Laboratories' personnel selected the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), in College Station, Texas as their test location. The test facilities at the Texas Transportation Institute's Proving Ground consist of a 2000‑acre complex of research and training facilities situated 10 miles northwest of the main campus of Texas A&M University. The site, formerly an Air Force base, has large expanses of concrete runways and parking aprons well suited for experimental research and testing in the areas of vehicle performance and handling, vehicle-roadway interaction, durability and efficacy of highway pavements, and evaluation of roadside safety hardware and perimeter security barriers/gates. The site selected for placing of the Metalith barrier was on a wide out-of-service runway.
The K50 Test BarrierThe Metalith wall was fabricated out of corrugated metal and backfilled with a select fill, sandy clay. The test wall dimensions of the finished barrier installation were 48-feet long by 12-feet tall by 12-feet thick. Installation personnel used standard Infrastructure Defense Technologies' Metalith 18-gauge interior panels to form a grid of 4-foot square sections at each end section and with alternating interior sections. The Metalith courses consisted of 3, 4-foot high sections for a total wall height of 12 feet. Workers used simple connecting rods to connect the courses with each other using existing aligned holes. Workers filled the Metalith bins with select fill. When the barrier's interior was completed, workers sheathed the Metalith with 24 gauge "Anti-Climb" panels and completed a standard roof section.
K50 Crash Test VehicleThe test vehicle specified in the Department of State's SD-STD-02.01, Revision A is a medium duty truck with diesel engine, tested at a gross vehicle weight of 15,000 lbs +/- 200 lbs.
In addition, #5 rebar were welded to the bottom of the bed and extended vertically 12 inches. TTI personnel placed the truck on a scale and added concrete via a pump until the desired truck weight was achieved.
The K50 Crash Test The truck cab was completely destroyed, the Metalith wall, as a unit, moved 0 inches off the setup marks, and penetration by the truck bed was negative 48 inches, as measured by the test criteria. According to TTI's report, "The bed of the truck remained firmly attached to the frame and the truck remained on the impact side. The entire cab of the vehicle was destroyed." Additionally, the TTI report stated, "The 1978 Mack RM dump truck impacted the barrier at 90.8 degrees, with the centerline of the vehicle aligned with the centerline of the barrier. The Metalith™ barrier brought the vehicle to a complete stop. The cargo remained onboard the vehicle. The front of the cargo bed did not penetrate beyond the inside edge of the barrier, and came to rest 4.6 feet forward of the inside edge." Actual K50 Crash Test Videos
View the Metalith's K50 crash test videos.
For more information about Infrastructure Defense Technologies' perimeter security products and applications, please call us at 1-800-621-5617, email us at info@themetalith.com, or fill out our contact form. To learn more about Infrastructure Defense Technologies, our products, and our capabilities, please visit www.infrastructure-defense.com or call us at 1-800-379-1822 Metalith Product Info | Exterior Finishes | Benefits | Applications The Metalith Copyright ©2003-2008 Infrastructure Defense Technologies. |
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For more information about the Metalith blast mitigation and anti-ram physical security barriers, please request our FREE BROCHURE by mail. Or you can DOWNLOAD it here.
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For this test, TTI personnel secured a 1978 Mack RM Dump Truck with test inertial mass of 65,000 lbs. To ensure a mass of 65,000 lbs, TTI personnel placed concrete in the bed of the truck.To secure the load, #5 rebar were placed longitudinally and transversely with the ends welded to the side of the bed.
Infrastructure Defense Technologies' Metalith K50 tested anti-ram and blast mitigation barriers and walls are designed to stop intruders attempting to penetrate a facility's perimeter security borders using heavy vehicles or explosive devices.
