Theory & Concepts: If necessary, use your browser's 'back' button to exit.

Shock Waves

P o s itio n (ft) fro m O rig in

Enter values in the shaded cells
and watch the time-space diagram
change. Each line represents one
vehicle. The change in slope
occurs when the wave reaches Time-Space Diagram
each vehicle.
800.0
Shock Wave
700.0

600.0
Model Conditions:
Initial Speed: 30 mph 500.0
Initial Density: 80 Veh/mile
400.0

Final Speed: 10 mph 300.0

Final Density: 180 Veh/mile
200.0
Wave Velocity: -6.0 mph 100.0

0.0
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0
Time (sec)

Calculations:
Initial Spacing: 66.0 ft
Final Spacing: 29.3 ft
Initial Flow (q): 2400.0 veh/hr
Final Flow (q): 1800.0 veh/hr
Velocity of Wave (Vsw): -6.0 mph

Graph Calculations:

Wave Front Time Between Vehicles: 1.3 sec

Time to Position Ending Ending

Initial hit wave when hit time Position
Vehicle Position (ft) (sec) wave (ft) (sec) (ft)
1 66 10.0 506.0 15.0 579.3323 Wave Position:
2 132 8.8 517.0 15.0 608.6657 time
3 198 7.5 528.0 15.0 637.9991 0.0
4 264 6.3 539.0 15.0 667.3325 4.5
5 330 5.0 550.0 15.0 696.6659

Final Spacing Check: 29.3 ft

Position of Vehicles for Time-Space Diagram

Vehicle 1 Vehicle 2 Vehicle 3 Vehicle 4
Time Position Time Position Time Position Time Position
0.0 66.0 0.0 132.0 0.0 198.0 0.0 264.0
10.0 506.0 8.8 517.0 7.5 528.0 6.3 539.0
15.0 579.3 15.0 608.7 15.0 638.0 15.0 667.3
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ace Diagram

ave

0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 16.0

Time (sec)

Wave Position:
Position
594.0
554.4

Vehicle 5
Time Position
0.0 330.0
5.0 550.0
15.0 696.7