Traffic Flow Theory & Simulation: S.P. Hoogendoorn
Traffic Flow Theory & Simulation: S.P. Hoogendoorn
Traffic Flow Theory & Simulation: S.P. Hoogendoorn
& Simulation
S.P. Hoogendoorn
Lecture 4
Shockwave theory
Shockwave theory I:
Introduction
Applications of the Fundamental Diagram
Shockwave analysis:
Vehicles are conserved
Traffic acts according to the fundamental diagram (q = Q(k))
Predicts how inhomogeneous conditions change over time
FOSIM demonstration
Example 3 -> 2 lane drop and emerging shockwaves
(roadworks, incident, etc.)
Congestion at a bottleneck
Simplest is to compare the system to a (sort of) queuing system
Drivers arrive at a certain rate (demand) at specific time intervals
The n servers needs a minimum amount of time to process the
drivers (each lane is a server)
Service time T is a driver-specific (random) variable depending on
weather conditions, road and ambient conditions, etc.
(= minimum time headway of a driver)
Note that service time is directly related to car-following behavior
When another driver arrives when the server is still busy, he / she
has to wait a certain amount of time
Waiting time accumulates -> queuing occurs
Photo by My Europe
Remainder: focus on macroscopic description
Capacity
Congestion
space
Free flow
time
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Definition of a shockwave
space
4 Free-flow
End of
bottleneck Stationary shockwave
3 Capacity between capacity
Bottleneck and congested conditions
location
2 What is the flow
Congestion inside congestion?
time
space
4 Free-flow
End of
Q(k)
bottleneck
1
3 Capacity
4
Bottleneck
location 3 2
2
Congestion
1 k
Remainder:
focus on the
dynamics
time of this
shock!
Shockwave
Bottleneck
2
capacity
u2
Vehicles
u2 upstream
u1
u1
1
Shockwave
2
u2
Vehicles
u2 upstream
u1 Jump in density
u1
Remarks:
If k2 > k1 sign shockwave speed negative if q1 > q2 (backward
forming shockwave)
If k2 > k1 sign shockwave speed positive if q1 < q2 (forward
recovery shockwave)
If k2 > k1 sign shockwave speed zero if q1 = q2 (backward
stationary)
Classification of shockwaves
22
q2
q1
t1 t2
3 3 capacity of
bottleneck
1
1
t1 t2 t
Simplest model
possible
(parsimony)
Interpretation of
parameters
Theoretical
considerations
Demonstration
FOSIM
Fundamental
diagram
determined from
real-life data, by
assuming
stationary
periods
Dependent on
measurement
location
Flow per lane
B
B A D
B
A C
A
A
D C
6 types of shockwaves
Which situations do
they represent?
Examples?
Rear stationary
x0
T
t1 t
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