Citation

Gkoumas K, Santo CD, Bontempi F. Int. J. Forensic Eng. 2016; 3(1/2): 106-126.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Inderscience Publishers)

DOI

10.1504/IJFE.2016.075992

PMID

unavailable

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.


Keywords: 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.

Language: en