The document summarizes a structural fire assessment of an existing road tunnel being converted to accommodate a tramway. Fire resistance requirements mandate ensuring safe evacuation and no structural collapse or deformation. The prestressed concrete tunnel consists of slabs supported by walls. A performance-based design approach using standard fire curves and natural scenarios like vehicle and fuel tanker fires was used. Thermal and structural analyses found the tunnel met requirements for a tramway fire but not for other scenarios, risking collapse within 30 minutes. Upgrades were needed to safely accommodate the tramway project.
The document summarizes a structural fire assessment of an existing road tunnel being converted to accommodate a tramway. Fire resistance requirements mandate ensuring safe evacuation and no structural collapse or deformation. The prestressed concrete tunnel consists of slabs supported by walls. A performance-based design approach using standard fire curves and natural scenarios like vehicle and fuel tanker fires was used. Thermal and structural analyses found the tunnel met requirements for a tramway fire but not for other scenarios, risking collapse within 30 minutes. Upgrades were needed to safely accommodate the tramway project.
The document summarizes a structural fire assessment of an existing road tunnel being converted to accommodate a tramway. Fire resistance requirements mandate ensuring safe evacuation and no structural collapse or deformation. The prestressed concrete tunnel consists of slabs supported by walls. A performance-based design approach using standard fire curves and natural scenarios like vehicle and fuel tanker fires was used. Thermal and structural analyses found the tunnel met requirements for a tramway fire but not for other scenarios, risking collapse within 30 minutes. Upgrades were needed to safely accommodate the tramway project.
The document summarizes a structural fire assessment of an existing road tunnel being converted to accommodate a tramway. Fire resistance requirements mandate ensuring safe evacuation and no structural collapse or deformation. The prestressed concrete tunnel consists of slabs supported by walls. A performance-based design approach using standard fire curves and natural scenarios like vehicle and fuel tanker fires was used. Thermal and structural analyses found the tunnel met requirements for a tramway fire but not for other scenarios, risking collapse within 30 minutes. Upgrades were needed to safely accommodate the tramway project.
an existing tunnel Eric Tonicello & Julien Duboc – ISI Sàrl – Lausanne, Switzerland
FEMTC 2022, Brno - September 12-14, 2022 1
Description of the project
Transformation of an existing tunnel
▪ Road tunnel under the Geneva Airport
▪ Transformation in the remit of a tramway project ▪ Check the fire safety : ✓ Evacuation ✓ Structural fire resistance
FEMTC 2022, Brno - September 12-14, 2022 2
Fire resistance requirements
In Switzerland, no explicit fire duration requirement for tunnel structures
▪ Objective: Get enough time to people escape in safe conditions
• R60 as a minimum (sometimes 90 min.)
▪ Requirements for this specific tunnel:
• Ensure safe evacuation • No structural collapse : Taxiway & Runway • No significant deformations
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Structure of the tunnel
Prestressed concrete structure
▪ The main structure consists of a double span slab, supported by RC walls
▪ ~100 % prestressed-based design on the transversal direction
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Structure of the tunnel
Prestressed concrete structure - design
▪ Substitute forces to consider prestressed cables • qp1, qp2, qp3 and qp4
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Structure of the tunnel
Different sections ▪ 3 sections for the slab ▪ 3 sections for the walls ▪ «Few» rebars ▪ Mainly prestressings cables
Section_1 Section_2 Section_3
Wall ext Central Gallery
wall FEMTC 2022, Brno - September 12-14, 2022 6 PBD approach – Step 1 : standard curves
▪ RWS and ISO fire curves
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PBD approach – Step 2: natural fire scenarios
✓ Heavy Goods Vehicle fire
✓ Fuel tanker fire ✓ Tramway fire
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PBD approach – Standard fire curves
Thermal calculations ▪ Check the sensibility of the heating of the prestressing cables
Critical zone for prestressed cable
(Tconcrete > 100°C)
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PBD approach – Checking the prestressing
Thermal calculations ▪ Check the sensibility of the heating of the prestressing cables
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PBD approach – Standard fire curves
Thermal calculations ▪ Temperature evolution in concrete and rebars ▪ 2D and 3D FEM calculation with SAFIR 13 cm
Evolution of Young modulus of prestressed
cable in function of temperature
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PBD approach – Standard fire curves
Thermal calculations ▪ Temperature evolution in concrete and rebars ▪ 2D and 3D FEM calculation with SAFIR
Loss of «substitute forces» due to temperature
▪ Thermal elongation ✓ Li+1=α Li (Ti+1 – Ti) + Li
▪ Young modulus reduction
✓ Up to 13 cm in concrete
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PBD approach – Standard fire curves
Thermal calculations
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PBD approach – Standard fire curves
Structural calculations ▪ FEM calculation with SAFIR®
▪ Structural model with beam elements
▪ Loading conditions in function
of temperature • According to thermal calculations
▪ Fire scenario in the right section :
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PBD approach – Standard fire curves
Structural calculations ▪ FEM calculation with SAFIR
Structural FEM model: initial state (black) / deformed state (blue)
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PBD approach – Standard fire curves
Structural calculations ▪ FEM calculation with SAFIR
▪ Pre-stress concrete structure < R60 PBD results
Structural resistance Maximum Residual of tunnel in fire Fire resistance ▪ High deformations → collapse situation [minutes] deformations deformations [mm] [mm] • Structure should be replaced ISO fire Collapse 36 • Significant interruption of Airport activities RWS fire 27 Collapse
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PBD approach – Natural fire scenarios
CFD calculations with FDS
▪ Geometry of the tunnel ▪ Reaction of combustion ▪ Natural ventilation Fuel tanker scenario HRR curves according to CETU guide ▪ Fuel tanker 200 MW ▪ HGV 100 MW ▪ Tramway ~64 MW (publications)
Tramway scenario
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PBD approach – Natural fire scenarios Tramway Tramway 64 MW scenario in FDS
▪ HRR curve according to publications
and experiments for train fires
Additional fire load density
Publication as reference HRR tests in experiments considered
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PBD approach – Natural fire scenarios
CFD calculations with FDS
▪ AST devices on ceiling and walls
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PBD approach – Natural fire scenarios
CFD calculations with FDS
▪ AST devices on ceiling and walls
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PBD approach – Natural fire scenarios
Thermal calculations ▪ Thermal stresses of CFD model as boundary conditions
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PBD approach – Natural fire scenarios
Structural calculations Structural resistance
PBD results
Maximum Residual ▪ ISO / RWS / 100 MW / 200 MW: KO of tunnel in fire situation Fire resistance [minutes] deformations deformations
▪ Tramway: OK [mm] [mm]
ISO fire 36 Collapse RWS fire 27 Collapse Tramway OK 25 13 - 15 ▪ No spalling considered HGV 100 MW 28 Collapse Fuel tanker 200 MW 27 Collapse • ~600 – 800°C
Concrete spalling example
Surface temperature > 800°C (fuel tanker fire): high concrete spalling risk
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PBD approach – Natural fire scenarios
Solutions: ▪ Organisational measures → no HGV and non fuel tanker in this tunnel (must take another itinerary) ▪ Passive measures → Fire panels (Promatect-H EI90 or similar) ▪ Active measures → Water mist installation
PBD results Structural resistance Maximum Residual of tunnel in fire Fire resistance deformations deformations situation [minutes] [mm] [mm] ISO fire 36 Collapse RWS fire 27 Collapse Tramway OK 25 13 - 15 HGV 100 MW 28 Collapse Fuel tanker 200 MW 27 Collapse
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PBD approach – Solutions
Passive measures ▪ Walls and main part of the slab need to be protected
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PBD approach – Solutions
Passive measures ▪ Walls and main part of the slab need to be protected
Passive protection
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PBD approach – Solutions
Passive measures ▪ Walls and main part of the slab need to be protected
▪ Low deformations with EI90 protection
• Promatect-H 25 mm or similar
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PBD approach – Solutions
Passive measures ▪ Advantages: • System reliability • Less maintenance • Very efficient • Good feedback
▪ Drawbaks: • Very expensive solution ~450 € / m2 • (brand new) Technical installations to be replaced post-fire • Fire panels have to be replaced post-fire (need to close tunnel) • No (cooling) effect on fire
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PBD approach – Solutions
Active measure: water mist solution
▪ Tested up to 250 MW fire
Without water mist system With water mist system
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PBD approach – Solutions
Active measure: water mist solution
▪ Tested up to 250 MW fire
▪ Cooling effect on fire after activation
▪ Quick HRR mitigation at the activation time
Test for HGV fire – 100 MW
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PBD approach – Solutions
Active measure ▪ Advantages: • Limited fire development • Easier and safer for the firefighting • Low damage risk for tunnel structures and technical installations
