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Traffic Characteristics and Shockwaves
Traffic Characteristics and Shockwaves
CHARACTERISTICS &
SHOCKWAVES
TYPES OF FLOW
Traffic flow is usually classified as
either
a. Uninterrupted Flow
b. Interrupted Flow
A. UNINTERRUPTED FLOW
𝒖𝒊 = 𝟑.𝟔𝚫𝒙
𝒕𝒊
where uᵢ=speed of vehicle i, in kph
Δx=trap length, in meters
tᵢ=time It takes to traverse trap length, in seconds
𝒖𝒕 = 𝟏 𝒏 𝒖
𝒊=𝟏 𝒊
𝒏
where 𝑢𝑡=individual speed of vehicles observed within
time, T
n=no. of measured vehicles
EXAMPLE
The speeds of 25 cars were observed. 10 cars were noted to travel
at 35kph, 8 cars at 40 kph, 2 cars at 50kph, and 5 cars at 45kph.
Assuming that each car was traveling at constant speed, determine
the time mean speed.
𝟏 𝒏 𝒖
Using 𝒖𝒕 = 𝒊=𝟏 𝒊 ,
𝒏
𝒏
𝒖𝒔 =
𝒏 𝟏
𝒊=𝟏𝒏𝒊
𝒏
Using 𝒖𝒔 = ,
𝒏 𝟏
𝒊=𝟏𝒏𝒊
𝟐𝟓
𝒖𝒔 = 10 8 2 5 = 39.26 kph
+ + +
35 40 50 45
C. DENSITY
𝑘 =𝑛
where
k = traffic density in vehicles per unit distance,
n = number of vehicles occupying some length of
roadway at some specified time, and
l = length of roadway.
OTHER TRAFFIC
VARIABLES
a. Time Headway
b. Spacing
c. Time Occupancy
TIME HEADWAY
Time interval between passage of consecutive vehicles at a
specified point on the road with a unit of time per vehicle and
is given as
𝑁−1
𝑖=1 ℎ𝑖
ℎ𝑡 =
𝑁−1
1
𝑠 =
𝑘
EXAMPLE
During heavy traffic congestion, it was observed that the average
spacing of vehicles in queue in the innermost lane in EDSA is 6.5m.
Determine the jam density or density of stopped vehicles.
Using 𝑠 = 1 ,
𝑘
a. Observed Relations
b. Empirical Relations
A. OBSERVED RELATIONS
Speed-density relation
Volume-density relation
Volume-speed relation
SPEED-DENSITY RELATION
The linear relationship shows that
as density increases, speed
decreases.
𝑘
𝑢𝑠 = 𝑢𝑓 (1 − )
𝑘
𝑘𝑗=jam density
VOLUME-DENSITY RELATIONSHIP
SPEED-FLOW RELATIONSHIPS
Traffic Flow
Fundamentals
Objectives
28
Some Terms
Speed (u)
⚫ Rate of motion (mph)
Density (k)
⚫ Rate of traffic over distance (vpm)
Volume (V)
⚫ Amount of traffic (vph)
Flow (q)
⚫ Rate of traffic (vph); equivalent hourly
rate
Basic Relationships
q = ku
1
q=
h
1
k=
s
31
Flow-Density Example
uf
Max density 0 speed
k
u = u f 1−
k
Speed
Density kj
33
Speed-Density Relationship
90
80
Average speed (mph)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
D e nsity (p cp m p l)
34
Flow-Density Relationship
k
u = u f 1 − and q = ku
k
j
uf
q = uf k − k2
Flow
kj
kcap kj Density
35
Flow-Density Relationship
3000
2500
Flow (pcphpl)
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
36 Density (pcpmpl)
Flow – density (and speed)
qm
Slope of these
Flow (veh/hr)
0
0 km KB kj
Concentration (veh/mi)
If the space mean speed is 45.6 mph, what is the flow rate?
q = kus = (10.6 veh/mile)(45.6 mph) = 481.5 veh/hr
Speed-Flow Relationship
k
u = u f 1 − and q = ku
k
j
uf kj
q = k ju − u2
Speed
uf
“Optimal” speed
for flow
ucap
maximization
qcap= kcapucap
qcap Flow
39
Speed-Flow Relationship
90
A ve ra g e sp e e d (m p h )
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
40 F low (pcphpl)
Highway capacity manual
Uncongested Flow
Queue
Discharge
Speed
Capacity Drop
Congested Flow
Flow
Source: Maze, Schrock, and VanDerHorst, “Traffic Management
Strategies for Merge Areas in Rural Interstate Work Zones
Speed-Flow-Density Relationship
(Greenshield’s Linear Model)
uf
ucap
qcap
qcap
44 kcap kj
Special Case
k
u = u f 1 −
Greenshield’s
Model k
⚫ Linear j
(Only) When uf kj
ucap = kcap =
Greenshield’s 2 2
Model holds,
k ju f
qcap = kcap ucap =
4
45
Greenshield Linear Model
speed (mph) uf
um
0
0 km kj
Concentration (veh/mi)
Example 1
A highway section has an average spacing
of 25ft under jam conditions and a free-
flow speed of 55mph. Assuming that the
relationship between speed and density is
linear, determine the jam density, the
maximum flow, the density at maximum
flow, and the speed at maximum flow.
47
Example 2
Traffic observations along a freeway lane
showed the flow rate of 1200vph occurred
with an average speed of 50mph. The
same study also showed that the free-flow
speed is 60mph and the speed-density
relationship follows the Greenshield’s
model. What is the capacity of this lane?
48
Example 3
A section of highway is known to have a
free-flow speed of 55mph and a capacity
of 3300vph. In a given hour, 2100 vehicles
were counted at a point along the road. If
Greenshield’s model applies, what would
be the space mean speed of these 2100
vehicles?
49
Queuing Theory
queue
Direction of Traffic
Direction of Traffic
A
1 2
Time, (hours)
Deterministic queuing
traffic signal case
Diagram for traffic signal
Example
( R + t0 ) * R
= Area under the curve = delay
2
noting that ( R + t0 ) * = * t0 ...
R
* t0 * = delay
2
λ µ
t0
R
Example
D=
((t0 * ) R )
= total delay
2
= Average Delay
Intersection delay in both directions
Multiple directions
Minimizing delay
Steady State Queuing
Arrival Distribution
⚫ Described by a Poisson distribution
Service Method
⚫ Usually first come first serve
Service Distribution
⚫ Follows a negative exponential distribution
Number of channels
Assumption of steady state
⚫ Average arrival rate is less than average service
rate
The M/M/1 System
4-way
Stop
Arrivals are not random
2-way
Stop
Common one channel
equations
n
q q
P ( n) = 1 −
Q Q
Example – suppose that cars take an average of 5 seconds
at a stop sign. If 9 cars per minute arrive at the sign what
is the probability of having 5 in the system what is the
probability of having five or fewer.
q 1
E ( w) = E (v ) =
Q (Q − q ) (Q − q )
9 1
E ( w) = = 0.25 E (v ) = = 0.33
12(12 − 9 ) (12 − 9 )
Common queuing equations
Probability of spending less than Probability of spending less than
time t in the system time t in the queue
q
q − 1− qt
− 1− qt q
P( w t ) = 1 − e Q
P (v t ) = 1 − e Q
Q
9
9 9 − 1− 9*0.75
− 1− 9*0.75
P(v 0.75) = 1 − e 12
= 0.81 P ( w 0.75) = 1 − e 12
= 0.86
12
Common queuing equations
N +1
q
P(n N ) =
Q
8+1
9
P(n 8) = = 0.075
12
Shock wave theory
qm
Slope of these
Flow (veh/hr)
0
0 km KB kj
Concentration (veh/mi)
Back Ward Moving Shock
wave
Qc
Speed of the
Q1
Spe
ed,
Shock wave
S
Q1 + Q2
S =
Q3 Q2
Flow Rate (q)
Qb
K1 + K 2
k1 Density (k) k2
Example
Suppose you have 2,000 vehicle per hour approaching a lane closure
at and average speed of 65 mph. The capacity of the lane closure is
1,400 vehicles per hour and at the maximum capacity move at 20
mph. Assuming the approaching vehicles are evenly distributed
between the two lanes. How fast is the shock wave traveling
backwards?
Qc
Q3 Q2
Flow Rate (q)
Qb
S
ed,
Spe
Q1
K1 Density (k) K2