CEECE

370468
Transportation Engineering

Traffic Flow
Characteristics (2)

Feb, 2009

Jessica Guo
CharlesProfessor
Adams

Learning Objectives
To differentiate between interrupted and
uninterrupted flow facilities
To define general and linear speed-density
relationships
To derive, sketch, and apply Greenshields
Model of traffic flow

Recap

Spacing

Recap

Clearance

Recap

Speed (v) ft/sec or mph

Flow (q) veh/sec or vph
Density (k) veh/ft or vpm
Spacing (s) ft/veh
Headway (h) sec/veh
Clearance (c) ft/veh
Gap (g) sec/veh

Remember, units are critical!

Fundamental Relationships
q=kv
(veh/hr) = (veh/mi) (mi/hr)

h=1/q
(sec/veh) = 1 / (veh/hr) (3600)

s=1/k
(ft/veh) = 1 / (veh/mi) (5280)

Types of Facilities
Uninterrupted flow
Freeways
Multilane highways
Two-lane highways

Types of Facilities
Interrupted flow
Signalized streets
Un-signalized streets
with stop signs
Transit lanes
Pedestrian walkways

General Speed-Density
Relationship
p.130

V
Free

normal flow

forced flow

Traffic
Jam

Q
Capacity

K
Density at
Capacity

Jam
Density

Recap

# vehicles/Distance
Density

General Speed-Density
Relationship
p.137

V
Traffic
Jam

Free

forced flow
normal flow

Q
Capacity

K
Density at
Capacity

Jam
Density

General Speed-Density
Relationship
p.137

V
Capacity
Free

Traffic
Jam

K
Density at
Capacity

Jam
Density

Greenshields Model
Assume a linear relationship between v
and k:
vf
Low Density = High
v v f k
Speed
vf
k
j
High Density = Low
Speed

kj

Greenshields Model
Q
Max flow

vf

v0

qmax

K0

vf
q vf k
k
j

Kj

2
k

Greenshields Model
V
Vf

1/k0=s0
V0

Q
Qmax
Max flow

Example
Assuming a linear v-k relationship, the mean
free speed is 60 mph near zero density, and
the corresponding jam density is 140 vpm.
Assume the average length of vehicles is 20
ft. Find:

v(k) and q(k)

Sketch v-k, v-q, and q-k diagrams
Compute v and k at q=1000 vph
Compute the average headway, spacings, clearances,
and gaps when the flow is maximum