How the Blade TMA Crumples to Protect Your Crew
The Blade TMA absorbs impacts through 12 blades that crumple its aluminum body. Here is how the design works and what it means for performance and repair.
The Blade TMA takes a different approach to energy absorption than a non-blade system. It uses 12 blades that crumple the aluminum body on impact, turning the force of a collision into controlled deformation. The result is the same goal every attenuator shares: slow the striking vehicle and steer it away from the crew.
The mechanics
When a vehicle strikes the unit, the blades cut and crumple the aluminum in a designed sequence. That progressive collapse absorbs energy over distance rather than in one abrupt stop, which is what keeps the deceleration survivable for the striking driver while protecting the work crew ahead.
What it means for a fleet
- MASH 2016 compliant with an FHWA Eligibility Letter, available in the test level your zones require.
- Predictable crumple behavior, since the blade design is engineered to deform in a known way.
- After a hit, the crumpled section is repaired and the unit re-certified before returning to service.
Blade and non-blade systems both meet MASH. The right choice depends on your repair preferences, downtime tolerance, and how your service provider supports each design.
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