Cascading failure mechanism of major drainage system in mountainous city: Taking the basin of the main urban area of Chongqing as an example, China

Abstract

Failure of major drainage systems is almost always accompanied by waterlogging. Understanding the operation and failure mechanism of major drainage systems is an important prerequisite for understanding and managing waterlogging. The natural and artificial environments in mountainous cities are more complex, and the major drainage system, as an open system for excessive surface runoff discharge and storage, is more prone to local overload and cascading failure. Existing theories and methods are difficult to explain and analyze the cascading failure characteristics and principles of major drainage systems in mountainous cities. Based on the complex network technology and the principle of runoff balance, the cascade failure model of major drainage system was constructed, and the characteristics and laws of cascade failure under six kinds of terrain, six kinds of short duration rainstorm and two kinds of surface environments were quantitatively analyzed. Research has found that the cascading failure of major drainage systems and waterlogging in mountainous cities should be the same phenomenon from different perspectives, and the simulated matching degree between the two can reach 79.5%. Meanwhile, 456 potential waterlogging locations were discovered in the study area, which is much larger than the actual 73 locations. When urban construction and rainfall conditions change, these unstable potential waterlogging locations are easily apparent. Among them, terrain is the main factor restricting the cascading failure of major drainage systems. Low lying valley areas often quickly accumulate a large amount of overflow, while flat areas are prone to overflow spreading to the surrounding areas; Slope areas are not prone to overflow, but are prone to local flooding. The change of short duration rainstorm and the difference of surface environmental openness will further interfere with the cascade failure of the major drainage system. The longer the return period of the short duration rainstorm or the increase of the peak value of the rainfall pattern, the greater the discharge and storage pressure of the major drainage system per unit time, resulting in intensified waterlogging. The open and unobstructed surface environment will lead to the small-scale spread of waterlogging, but this will significantly reduce the overall degree of waterlogging in the late rainstorm. The study revealed the spatiotemporal principles and basic laws of cascading failure of major drainage systems in mountainous cities. The conclusion is helpful for mountainous cities to formulate urban construction management strategies and climate change adaptation strategies, and to cope with current and future potential waterlogging disasters.