Overbuilding, i.e. capping or decking, of roads assigned for the transportation of dangerous goods in major cities is being considered more often in many countries including Sweden. This type of facility introduces a ...Overbuilding, i.e. capping or decking, of roads assigned for the transportation of dangerous goods in major cities is being considered more often in many countries including Sweden. This type of facility introduces a number of risks and challenges related to rare events, such as dangerous goods accidents in tunnels, with a potential to cause substantial damage, e.g. collapse of buildings on the over site development. Many argue that the major problem associated with risk evaluation of such risks is the lack of commonly agreed acceptance criteria and regulations. Approaching the problem from a scientific perspective suggests that the root cause of this problem has not been adequately identified. However, there are strong indications that it is because the nature of the risk is not adequately addressed in risk analysis. In this study, we have structured the problem and propose ways of making progress in the evaluation of risk exposure and risk control. It is concluded that several challenges are inherent in the risk management of decking over routes for the transport of dangerous goods, and that these must be addressed in order to be able to control the risk. One of the complicating factors is that it is practically and economically impossible to construct the overbuilding so that it can withstand the maximum permissible explosion load. The main conclusions of this study are that overbuilding of dangerous goods routes has the potential to lead to catastrophic events, that the transport of dangerous goods in the future is associated with considerable intrinsic uncertainties, and that the possibility of supervising and controlling the transport of goods is limited once the route is in use.展开更多
Since the Wenchuan earthquake in China on May 12th, 2008, highways in earthquake-affected areas have been frequently interrupted by debris flows. We analyzed the hazard effect modes and damage processes along highways...Since the Wenchuan earthquake in China on May 12th, 2008, highways in earthquake-affected areas have been frequently interrupted by debris flows. We analyzed the hazard effect modes and damage processes along highways and developed three key indexes, scale of debris flows, deposits on highways and river blockage, to describe quantitatively the highway disasters. By combining the empirical methods and the actual terrain conditions, we proposed new methods to determine the value of hazard indexes. In addition, we used the economic value and resistance of highway as vulnerability assessment indexes, then determined the specific subindexes for the subgrade, bridges and culverts, and developed a way for the quantified vulnerability zoning. Moreover, we proposed the assessment and mapping methods for highway risk. The risk is described into 5 grades: extremely low risk, low risk, middle risk, high risk and extremely high risk. We applied these methods in a case study carried out on provincial highway S3o3 from Yingxiu Town to Wolong Town, in Wenchuan County. Analysis of debris flow risk for the whole highway, showed that the total length of highway in extremely low risk area was 28.26 km, 4.83 km in low risk area, 8.0 km in middle risk area, 3.65 km in high risk area, and 3.06 km in extremely high risk area. The assessment results are consistent with the field survey data which reflected the disaster situation. This risk method can be used objectively to evaluate the debris-flow risk along highways, and is useful for highway reconstruction in mountainous areas suffering from active debris flows.展开更多
文摘Overbuilding, i.e. capping or decking, of roads assigned for the transportation of dangerous goods in major cities is being considered more often in many countries including Sweden. This type of facility introduces a number of risks and challenges related to rare events, such as dangerous goods accidents in tunnels, with a potential to cause substantial damage, e.g. collapse of buildings on the over site development. Many argue that the major problem associated with risk evaluation of such risks is the lack of commonly agreed acceptance criteria and regulations. Approaching the problem from a scientific perspective suggests that the root cause of this problem has not been adequately identified. However, there are strong indications that it is because the nature of the risk is not adequately addressed in risk analysis. In this study, we have structured the problem and propose ways of making progress in the evaluation of risk exposure and risk control. It is concluded that several challenges are inherent in the risk management of decking over routes for the transport of dangerous goods, and that these must be addressed in order to be able to control the risk. One of the complicating factors is that it is practically and economically impossible to construct the overbuilding so that it can withstand the maximum permissible explosion load. The main conclusions of this study are that overbuilding of dangerous goods routes has the potential to lead to catastrophic events, that the transport of dangerous goods in the future is associated with considerable intrinsic uncertainties, and that the possibility of supervising and controlling the transport of goods is limited once the route is in use.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)(Grant No.41030742)the projects of National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program)(Grant No.2011CB409902)
文摘Since the Wenchuan earthquake in China on May 12th, 2008, highways in earthquake-affected areas have been frequently interrupted by debris flows. We analyzed the hazard effect modes and damage processes along highways and developed three key indexes, scale of debris flows, deposits on highways and river blockage, to describe quantitatively the highway disasters. By combining the empirical methods and the actual terrain conditions, we proposed new methods to determine the value of hazard indexes. In addition, we used the economic value and resistance of highway as vulnerability assessment indexes, then determined the specific subindexes for the subgrade, bridges and culverts, and developed a way for the quantified vulnerability zoning. Moreover, we proposed the assessment and mapping methods for highway risk. The risk is described into 5 grades: extremely low risk, low risk, middle risk, high risk and extremely high risk. We applied these methods in a case study carried out on provincial highway S3o3 from Yingxiu Town to Wolong Town, in Wenchuan County. Analysis of debris flow risk for the whole highway, showed that the total length of highway in extremely low risk area was 28.26 km, 4.83 km in low risk area, 8.0 km in middle risk area, 3.65 km in high risk area, and 3.06 km in extremely high risk area. The assessment results are consistent with the field survey data which reflected the disaster situation. This risk method can be used objectively to evaluate the debris-flow risk along highways, and is useful for highway reconstruction in mountainous areas suffering from active debris flows.