Multi-forces floor field model simulation of cabin evacuation scenarios for various passenger groups

The behavior of passengers during aircraft cabin evacuations is characterized by its complexity and variability. To investigate the combination, backtracking, and following behaviors of passenger groups with specific social statuses, as well as the evacuation behavior of disabled groups using wheelchairs with the assistance of auxiliary personnel, we assess the influence of group behavior on evacuation efficiency employing the multi-forces floor field cellular automaton model. This model accounts for the logical differences in evacuation behaviors between different-sized and disabled groups. Through simulation, we analyze the effect of the timing of disabled groups joining the evacuation process on the evacuation duration and efficiency of different cabin segments. What is more, we examine the spatial distribution of groups of various sizes during the evacuation process. The results indicate that the early integration of disabled groups has a minimal overall impact, while their delayed involvement exacerbates the imbalance in exit usage time. The presence of groups prolongs the total evacuation time, with pairs exhibiting a denser spatial structure compared to larger groups. The negative impact brought by groups increases with the size of the group.