Abstract
In this study, fire in a short 2-lane single-directional road tunnel with two different traffic situations is considered and the impact of spread of fire and smoke on people evacuation is investigated. The FDS+Evac system used comprises of FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator), an advanced CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) fire field model supplemented by agent-based FDS evacuation model, Evac. Evac is capable to exploit its direct access to simulated fire characteristics and to model the influence of fire on evacuees’ behavior and decision making. In Evac, a modified Helbing’s social force model adapted for description of movement of evacuees and their behavior is implemented. Some particularities of FDS+Evac, which must be taken into account to avoid misrepresentation of inputs for evacuation in case of fire, are discussed and the impact of occurrence of higher capacity vehicles on people evacuation is illustrated. Simulation results and some of comments and recommendations included can be useful for those who are engaged in research, development, testing and competent use of FDS+Evac for practical problems of fire safety in road tunnels.
Highlights
The use of current simulation systems for modeling fire spread and people evacuation in the case of road tunnel fire is a difficult, challenging problem in tunnel fire safety
The FDS+Evac system used comprises of FDS (Fire Dynamics Simulator), an advanced CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) fire field model supplemented by agent-based FDS evacuation model, Evac
Simulation results and some of comments and recommendations included can be useful for those who are engaged in research, development, testing and competent use of FDS+Evac for practical problems of fire safety in road tunnels
Summary
The use of current simulation systems for modeling fire spread and people evacuation in the case of road tunnel fire is a difficult, challenging problem in tunnel fire safety. Recent incidents in tunnels (e.g., in Tauern, Gotthard, Mont Blanc, Viamala) and new contemporary security and safety challenges appeared have turned attention to risks of fires in road tunnels. Such fires can result in casualties as well as in direct and indirect economic and environmental damages. They can cause destruction of the tunnel structure and facilities, vehicles and their loads and endanger lives and health of passengers, firemen and operating staff members in tunnel. As road tunnels are part of national and international transportation systems and critical infrastructures, safe evacuation of people in case of emergent event belongs to important duties which must be provided by crisis management of tunnel (Lewis et al, 2013; Kang, 2010; Bebcak, 2007)
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