Method of mathematical modelling of passenger flows to justify the space-planning solutions of underground stations and calculate passenger evacuation

Introduction. Space-planning solutions for underground stations have an effect on the comfort and safety of passengers. Mathematical modelling is a perspective method for solving problems dealing with the determination of adequacy of adopted space-planning solutions for stations depending on passenger traffic.

Aims and purposes. The purpose of the study is to justify the method of mathematical modelling of passenger flows to develop optimal space-planning solutions of interchange stations of underground. To achieve this goal, the following tasks were solved: the development of a model interchange station concept; modelling passenger flows with initial and optimized volume planning solutions; modelling of passenger evacuation from the station in case of fire in the basement of the arriving train’s central carriage.

Methods. The paper presents a method of mathematical modelling to justify the space-planning solutions of underground stations. The software package Pathfinder developed an individual flow model of the interchange station, which simulated the passenger flows with initial and optimized volume-planning solutions. The software package PyroSim was used to simulate the spread of fire hazards.

Results and discussion. Based on the results of mathematical modelling, the optimal space-planning solutions for underground stations were determined, on the basis of which the passenger evacuation scenario was performed. It is obtained that there are 3,684 passengers and 296 workers at the station when the evacuation begins. The simulation results showed that the total estimated evacuation time from a typical transfer station is 814 seconds. It is obtained that the values of dangerous fire factors in the calculated points do not reach critical values until the evacuation is completed.

Conclusions. A mathematical model of a typical interchange station has been developed and implemented to determine the optimal space-planning solutions and calculate the safe evacuation of people. On the basis of this study in the new edition of the Code of Practice 120.13330.2022 “Underground” made amendments that determine that the estimated number of passengers evacuating from the station in case of fire, is based on mathematical modelling of passenger traffic during the rush hour.

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