Developing a rubbery serpentine wall as a highway median barrier

[SamCJ]

I am developing a rubbery serpentine wall as a highway median barrier and I need to know the tensile strength necessary to hold against a 4400 lb pickup moving 62.5 mph. Using an excel spreadsheet and iterations, I subtract the momentum of the wall from that of the pickup at 2 foot intervals until the pickup stops, and then I examine the calculations during each two foot interval for the highest amount of force transferred to the wall. The wall has some thickness and weight, and it sits loosely on the ground, so I also factor in friction. But should I use Kinetic Energy instead of momentum to determine the highest amount of force on the wall during each two foot interval?

 

[whozum]

I would use KE, that way you can factor in the friction force to the ground a lot easier.
I would wait for an expert to help you out though.

 

[GSXR750]

It is important to consider both kinetic energy and momentum when determining the necessary tensile strength for your rubbery serpentine wall. While momentum is a measure of the object's mass and velocity, kinetic energy takes into account the object's mass and velocity squared. This means that kinetic energy may provide a more accurate representation of the force exerted on the wall, as it takes into account the increased energy of the moving object.

Additionally, it may be beneficial to also consider the impact force of the pickup hitting the wall. This can be calculated by dividing the kinetic energy by the distance over which the impact occurs. This will give you a better understanding of the maximum force that the wall will need to withstand.

In order to accurately determine the necessary tensile strength for your wall, it may be helpful to consult with a structural engineer or conduct further research on similar highway barriers. They can provide valuable insights and expertise to ensure that your wall is able to withstand the force of a 4400 lb pickup moving at 62.5 mph.