Risk analysis for severe traffic accidents in long road tunnels. (2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gkoumas, Konstantinos; Santo, Carmine Di; Bontempi, Franco
• Is Part Of: International journal of forensic engineering. Volume 3:Number 1/2(2016)
• Page Start: 106
• Page End: 126
• Publication Date: 2016
• Subjects: risk assessment -- road tunnels -- tunnel safety -- QRAM -- forensic investigations -- probit analysis -- dangerous goods -- pressure effects -- thermal effects -- toxic effects -- accident scenarios -- severe accidents -- road traffic accidents -- long tunnels; Forensic engineering -- Periodicals; 624.176
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-9944

Abstract

In the recent years, with a globally increasing private motoring, tunnelling has gained a particular importance. After a series of dramatic accidents, the public opinion has turned its attention to tunnel fire safety. This paper focuses on the risk analysis in road tunnels, using the well-established Europe PIARC-OECD Quantitative Risk Assessment Model (QRAM). In the first part, a brief literature review - also on forensic investigations in tunnels - is performed, and the logic behind this method is briefly reassumed, focusing on the risk indicators. In the second part, a comprehensive risk analysis is performed in a long tunnel in Southern Italy, accounting for multifaceted aspects and parameters. The paper is completed with a sensitivity analysis on specific parameters that have an influence on the risk.