Abstract: Based on the Instron 9250 dropping hammer impact system, an impact system for the modeling test of highway guardrail system (including W beam, blocks and posts) was designed and implemented. Based on this system, impact experiments of guardrail system were carried out. The dynamic behaviors of the guardrail system under impact were fundamentally acquired and the features of the deformations of each component of the guardrail system were described. The deformation energy of W beam and block was calculated from the experimental results and their contributions to the energy absorption were investigated. lt was found that the energy absorbed by W beam accounted for about 50%～65% of the total absorbed energy and the energy absorbed by blocks accounted for 15%～25%.

Key words: semirigid guardrail system, impact experiment, energy absorption, response property