Energy-absorbing guardrail end terminal and method

An energy-absorbing guardrail terminal comprising:

• a plurality of beams, extending substantially parallel to one another, and having at least one overlapping end;
• a plurality of break-away support posts coupled to and supporting the plurality of beams;
• a plurality of fasteners for coupling the plurality of beams to one or more of the plurality of break-away posts;
• and
• a plurality of openings formed on the plurality of beams that are operable to encounter the plurality of fasteners during a forceful impact of a vehicle on the energy absorbing guardrail terminal to create a substantially square wave of energy absorption.

An energy-absorbing guardrail terminal comprising:

• a plurality of beams, extending substantially parallel to one another, and having at least one overlapping end;
• a plurality of break-away support posts coupled to and supporting the plurality of beams;
• a plurality of fasteners for coupling the plurality of beams to one or more of the plurality of break-away posts;
• and
• a pattern of openings in the beams register with the plurality of fasteners such that during a forceful impact of a vehicle on the energy absorbing guardrail terminal at least one fastener shreds a portion of one of the beams at any given time during energy absorption.

An energy-absorbing guardrail terminal having an upstream end, the terminal for absorbing energy during an impact by a vehicle, the terminal comprising:

• a nose section at the upstream end of the terminal;
• a first force-carrying, energy-absorbing member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first force-carrying, energy-absorbing member coupled to the nose section for receiving energy during the impact by the vehicle on the terminal;
• a plurality of fasteners;
• a second force-carrying, energy-absorbing member having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second force-carrying, energy-absorbing member coupled to a portion of the first force-carrying, energy-absorbing member by the plurality of fasteners;
• wherein the first force carrying, energy-absorbing member is formed with a plurality of offset openings for registration with the plurality of fasteners;
• and
• wherein during relative movement of the first force-carrying, energy-absorbing member and the second force-carrying, energy-absorbing member, the plurality of fasteners shred a portion of the first force-carrying, energy-absorbing member with a continuous shredding action.

A method of manufacturing an energy-absorbing guardrail terminal comprising:

• forming a plurality of beams with a plurality of openings with an offset pattern;
• placing the plurality of beams so they extend substantially parallel to one another, and having at least one overlapping end;
• providing a plurality of break-away support posts coupled to and supporting the plurality of beams;
• coupling a portion the plurality of beams to one or more of the plurality of break-away posts;
• and
• coupling the plurality of beams together with a plurality of fasteners so that when a vehicle forcefully impacts the terminal, the fasteners shred a portion of at least one of the plurality of beams according to the offset pattern.