Vulnerability assessment of freeway network considering the probabilities and consequences from a perspective based...

Area of Science:

• Transportation Engineering
• Network Analysis
• Risk Management

Background:

• Freeway networks are susceptible to disruptions, impacting performance.
• Existing vulnerability assessments often overlook closure probability and external network effects.
• The impact of freeway tunnels on vulnerability has been neglected.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a freeway vulnerability assessment framework incorporating probability and consequences.
• To analyze network cascade failures for critical infrastructure identification.
• To improve road emergency management strategies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an improved coupled map lattice model for cascade failure analysis.
• Incorporated tunnel effects and optimized local traffic redistribution rules.
• Established a nodal vulnerability index and used hierarchical clustering for classification.

Main Results:

• Identified critical toll stations and freeway sections based on vulnerability.
• Classified toll stations into five vulnerability clusters (extremely high to extremely low).
• Found approximately 31% of toll stations are highly vulnerable, with three sections identified as extremely vulnerable.

Conclusions:

• The proposed framework offers a novel perspective on freeway network vulnerability.
• The method effectively identifies critical components for targeted emergency management.
• The approach enhances the accuracy of topological analysis and traffic distribution assessments.