Crash Testing Truck Attenuators: Unveiling the Science Behind Safety

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) conducted crash tests on truck-mounted attenuators in the early 1980s using their own designs based on Hexcell aluminum honeycomb. The tests involved crashing 18 cars and one dump truck into the attenuators, with the best design featuring increasingly larger blocks of Hexcell. Despite the DIY approach, the attenuators performed well, keeping impact velocities below 27 mph (43 km/h). These crash tests contributed to the development of safer highway work zones and improved survivability in motor vehicle accidents.