Numerical Modeling of the Macroscopic Behavior of a Crowd of People under Emergency Conditions Triggered by an Incidental Release of a Heavy Gas: an Integrated Approach

Abstract

In the present study, we focus on modeling and simulations of macroscopic behavior of a crowd of people under emergency conditions. We present a newly developed integrated numerical approach, which combines the time-dependent RANS method in predicting the temporal and spatial evolution of a heavy gas turbulent dispersion with the macroscopic model of a crowd movement. The coupling is imposed through locally determined concentration of the heavy gas which directly impacts the movement of the crowd of people. The potential of the developed approach is demonstrated in a series of cases that include the crowd behavior on an open railway platform and inside a train station, as well as predictions of field studies of turbulent dispersion of a heavy gas under windy conditions. Finally, various scenarios have been analyzed of the coupling between the local concentration of a potentially harmful heavy gas on crowd behavior through different forms of the cost functions. In conclusion, the version of the integrated model is recommended for future optimization studies of crowd dynamics following an incidental release of heavy gas.