Interdependence of flows when merge in rail tunnel evacuations

Balboa, Adriana; Alvear, Daniel; Abreu, Orlando · 2020 · Crossref

DOI: 10.17815/cd.2020.72

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Summary

This study investigates the interdependence of pedestrian flows merging from train exits and lateral walkways during rail tunnel evacuations. The research addresses a critical gap in evacuation modeling, as existing literature lacks data on how these specific merging conditions impact total evacuation time and safety. Understanding this interaction is vital for designing effective evacuation strategies and validating computer simulation models, which currently rely on scarce empirical data regarding merging behaviors in unique tunnel environments. To analyze this phenomenon, the authors conducted experiments using a full-scale mock-up of a rail car exit and a lateral walkway at the University of Cantabria. The study involved 77 participants, selected to represent future passenger demographics (mean age 48, range 18–74), who were divided into two groups exiting either from the train or the walkway. Eight distinct exit configurations were tested, varying the height differential of the train exit (0 m, 0.8 m, and 1.2 m) and the widths of the train exit and walkway. Video recordings were manually analyzed to calculate a new metric, "instantaneous specific flow," which accounts for individual hesitations and variations rather than using constant average flow rates. Data clustering and linear regression analysis were employed to determine the mutual dependence between the two flows. The results demonstrate that the height differential of the train exit significantly influences the merging priority. At 0 m height, flows were nearly balanced, with a slight preference for the walkway. At 0.8 m height, a moderate dominance of the walkway flow was observed. At 1.2 m height, the walkway flow clearly dominated the merging process. Notably, this dominance persisted despite participants exhibiting deference behaviors, such as stopping to assist those exiting from the elevated train car. The regression slopes confirmed that higher exit heights correlate with greater walkway priority, contradicting the expectation that deference would equalize flow distribution. These findings have significant implications for rail tunnel design and evacuation modeling. The study suggests that aligning the walkway height with the train floor facilitates more effective evacuations by reducing flow imbalance. It also highlights that current evacuation models require detailed, stochastic data inputs rather than constant values to accurately simulate merging behaviors. The proposed method for measuring instantaneous specific flow provides a tool for model developers to better represent the interdependence of flows, ultimately aiding in the creation of safer tunnel designs and more reliable evacuation procedures.

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• evacuation egress