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Monte Carlo Sensitivity Analysis of Unknown Parameters in Hazardous Materials Transportation Risk Assessment

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  • Julia J. Pet‐Armacost
  • Jose Sepulveda
  • Milton Sakude

Abstract

The US Department of Transportation was interested in the risks associated with transporting Hydrazine in tanks with and without relief devices. Hydrazine is both highly toxic and flammable, as well as corrosive. Consequently, there was a conflict as to whether a relief device should be used or not. Data were not available on the impact of relief devices on release probabilities or the impact of Hydrazine on the likelihood of fires and explosions. In this paper, a Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis of the unknown parameters was used to assess the risks associated with highway transport of Hydrazine. To help determine whether or not relief devices should be used, fault trees and event trees were used to model the sequences of events that could lead to adverse consequences during transport of Hydrazine. The event probabilities in the event trees were derived as functions of the parameters whose effects were not known. The impacts of these parameters on the riskof toxic exposures, fires, and explosions were analyzed through a Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis and analyzed statistically through an analysis of variance. The analysis allowed the determination of which of the unknown parameters had a significant impact on the risks. It also provided the necessary support to a critical transportation decision even though the values of several key parameters were not known.

Suggested Citation

  • Julia J. Pet‐Armacost & Jose Sepulveda & Milton Sakude, 1999. "Monte Carlo Sensitivity Analysis of Unknown Parameters in Hazardous Materials Transportation Risk Assessment," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(6), pages 1173-1184, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:19:y:1999:i:6:p:1173-1184
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.1999.tb01136.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Nathalie de Marcellis-Warin & Ingrid Peignier & Marie-Hélène Leroux & Martin Trépanier, 2010. "Analyse des résultats d'une enquête auprès des entreprises faisant du transport routier de matières dangereuses au Québec," CIRANO Project Reports 2010rp-14, CIRANO.
    3. H. Christopher Frey & Sumeet R. Patil, 2002. "Identification and Review of Sensitivity Analysis Methods," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 22(3), pages 553-578, June.
    4. Guo, Jian & Luo, Cheng & Ma, Kaijiang, 2023. "Risk coupling analysis of road transportation accidents of hazardous materials in complicated maritime environment," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).

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