STUDY FOR FLOODING IN TUNNELS DUE

TO STORM SURGES
PRESENTED TO THE MTA

ZACKARY KENNETT
OLGA MARKOGIANNAKI

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Storm Surge Event
Time-History of Storm Surge
35
Height of Water (ft) [NAVD88]

30

25

20
Category 4
15 Category 3
Category 2
10 Category 1
5

0
-400 -300 -200 -100 0 100 200
Duration from Surge Peak (s)
Time-History of Storm Surge
Height of Water (ft) [NAVD88] 100 Yr Event Storm Surge Time History

Duration after Event Occurrence (s)

h1(t) = 0.23e0.029t h2(t) = 18800e-0.058t

Peak of 10’ at 130 minutes after duration.

Modified Time-History
Height of Water (ft) [NAVD88] Modified Storm Surge Time History

Duration after Event Occurrence (s)

h1’(t) = h1’(t) -H h2’(t) = h1’(t) -H

Initial Time To = ln(H/0.23)/0.029

Final Time Tf = -ln(H/18800)/0.058
Ventilation Flow

Average Flow Velocity (ft/s)

Average Flow Rate (ft3/s)

Tunnel Entrance Flow

Flow Area (ft2)

Wetted Perimeter (ft)

Hydraulic Radius (ft)

Tunnel Entrance Flow

Average Flow Velocity (ft/s)

Average Flow Rate (ft3/s)

Flow to Volume
Ventilation Example
 State St. N/O South Ferry Station
 NAVD88 elevation of ventilation area is 5’ (H=5’)
 Open area: 48 ft2 from grates, 150 ft2 from stairway
entrances (A=198 ft2)
 Event duration of 35.9 minutes
 17.9 ft/s peak average flow velocity
 3550 ft3/s peak average flow rate
 Total volume of flooding 4,700,000 cf
 Ventilation Example

Volume of Water Entering Ventilation

Volume of Water (cf)

Duration after Event Occurrence (s)

Tunnel Entrance Example
 Battery Park Tunnel (from NY)
 NAVD88 elevation of entrance is 8,4’ (H=8.4’)
 Tunnel cross-section width is 32’ (b=32’)
 Slope from tunnel entrance to maximum tunnel
depth in the center is 0.032 (So =0.032)
 Consider the roughness coefficient for water along
unfinished concrete (n=0.012)
Tunnel Entrance Example
 Tunnel Entrance Example

Volume of Water Entering Entrance

Volume of Water (cf)

Duration after Event Occurrence (s)