Author(s): Carlos Humberto Aparicio Uribe; Beniamino Russo; Jackson Tellez-Alvarez

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Keywords: Underground spaces; Flooded stairs; Pedestrian instability; Evacuation protocols

Abstract: Urbanization and climate change have intensified the vulnerability of underground spaces to flooding, with evacuation routes such as stairs in underground spaces presenting unique challenges. This study investigates the hydrodynamic forces exerted by a stable discharge of 423 l/s on a single individual evacuating flooded stairs by using the commercial software FLOW-3D replicating an access stair to the Paral·lel metro station in Barcelona, Spain. The dummy was positioned in the lower part of the stairs, according to the literature the most hazardous zone, with every leg on a different step. The mean force exerted on the dummy was 119.2 Nw. A differentiated analysis of the forces on individual legs revealed a slightly higher mean force on the back leg (60.9 Nw) compared to the front leg (58.2 Nw), suggesting a balanced yet dynamically influenced distribution. Mean forces exceeded the 42.4 Nw threshold associated with pedestrian instability during evacuation. These results align with prior studies, validating the methodology and emphasizing the risks associated with flood-induced instability. Future research should explore multi-subject dynamics to better simulate real-world evacuations, accounting for group interactions and positioning. This study underscores the importance of safety criteria for urban resilience and improved flood evacuation protocols.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64697/978-90-835589-7-4_41WC-P1996-cd

Year: 2025