The end anchorage is critical for two reasons:
- The barrier is designed to act as a stressed ribbon with the forces dispersed along the length of the barrier. That's why posts look relatively flimsy. If the posts were tougher then they'd form a rigid obstacle which would cause more problems.
- The traditional method is for the end anchorage to be fixed to a block of concrete which is wedge shapes to deflect a vehicle that hits the barrier end on. Also, the barrier should start/terminate a long way before the hazard it is guarding.
However there have been cases of the vehicles riding up the anchorage block and running along the top of the barrier like a train on a rail. That's not good if the barrier is guarding a bridge pier, because it directs the car into the pier.
The other problem is that a very high speed lightweight car is launched into the air by the concrete wedge. If it is in a central reservation, then the car is launched head on into oncoming traffic.
So, the newer method is to have energy absorbing ends to the barrier that allow a head on collision without piecing the vehicle. The pics noted above are similar to those used in Europe.
I'd be interested to see the barrier anchorage prior to Kubica's accident.
However, we have to remember these guys are running on remote country roads with tight bends where a car would be normally be traveling much slower. The barrier could well be several decades old but perfectly satisfactory for normal events.
Remember that an F1 track is like a carefully controlled sterile laboratory compared to a rally on public roads where there is little or no additional protection and no medical support.
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