Abstract
An early stage of the design of a safety barrier intended for protecting roadside property against fires and explosions on road is studied. Three main problems of this design stage are highlighted: determination of the road segment from which a roadside object to be protected can be damaged; specification of area for barrier construction; and positioning of the barrier within available construction area. A solution of these problems is considered to be a necessary step providing helpful information for a detailed design of the barrier by applying methods of structural optimisation. It is shown that the most challenging problem of the early stage of barrier design will be the determination of an unsafe road segment. This problem is formulated as a problem of quantitative risk assessment (QRA) and solved by combining rigorous methods of QRA and structural reliability theory. Apart from rigorous methods, engineering judgement may be required for the positioning of the barrier within available area. A case study is used to illustrate the main steps of the early, pre-optimisation stage of barrier design.
Highlights
The transport of flammable and explosive materials by road and rail has an increasing trend
This problem is formulated as a problem of quantitative risk assessment (QRA) and solved by combining rigorous methods of QRA and structural reliability theory
The risk posed by potential fires and explosions on road can be controlled by providing adequate separation distances between road and facility site or individual roadside objects
Summary
The transport of flammable and explosive materials by road and rail has an increasing trend. The owner (designer) of the endangered facility may have little influence, if any, on the routing of flammable and explosive materials over an adjacent public road. Blast walls are normally not designed to resist effects of fireballs and large projectiles from road tank explosions or to influence, in a way, a spread of flammable gases and liquids accidentally released from tank vehicles. The optimal design of the barrier should be preceded by making several decisions concerning sitting the barrier: determination of the area available for its construction; positioning the barrier between road and roadside object(s); and configuring the barrier in plan. Making such decisions may be seen as a pre-optimisation stage of the barrier design. The further text refers mainly to explosions on road, whereas fires are mentioned where necessary
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