Traffic Flow Distance-time Diagram and Shockwaves

Lecture 14
CE 2710
Norman W. Garrick
 Time-Distance Diagrams of Traffic Flow

Vehicle 2 Vehicle 1
u2 = 30 mph u1 = 50 mph
(constant) (constant)

Distance
Slope = speed
s

h
Fix Position

Time
Fix Point in Time Norman W. Garrick
 Time-Distance Diagrams of Traffic Flow

Distance

Time
Norman W. Garrick
 Time-Distance Diagrams
Actual Traffic Flow

Ref: Papacostas and Prevedouros

Norman W. Garrick
 Shock Waves

A shock wave occur when there is a change in the travel condition

on the roadway that affect the stream flow.

For example, a shock wave occur when drivers slow down to look
at an accident (rubberneck) - this can cause a traffic jam that
is seemingly more dramatic than one would expect given the
nature of the act that caused it.

Shock waves can be associated with a particular vehicle in the

stream slowing down or stopping

A shock wave is also associated with the traffic pressure being

released and a traffic jam dissipating

Norman W. Garrick
 Example of a Shock Wave
At a Stop

T = t1 sec

Traffic is flowing normal

Flow, q = 500 veh/hr Conc, k = 10 veh/mi

Norman W. Garrick
 Example of a Shock Wave
At a Stop

T = t2 sec

Flagman stops first vehicle in the queue

Shockwave

Norman W. Garrick
 Example of a Shock Wave
At a Stop

T = t3 sec
More vehicles have joined the queue
The shockwave have moved backwards

Shockwave 1

State 1 State 2
q = 500 veh/hr q = 0 veh/hr
k = 10 veh/mi k = 260 veh/mi

On either side of the shockwave there are two different state of flow

Norman W. Garrick
 Example of a Shock Wave
At a Stop

T = t4 sec
Flagman releases queue

Shockwave 1 Shockwave 2

State 1 State 2 State 3

q = 500 veh/hr q = 0 veh/hr q = 1000 veh/hr
k = 10 veh/mi k = 260 veh/mi k = 110 veh/mi

There is now a second shockwave and a third state of flow -

the flow state for traffic released from the queue

Norman W. Garrick
 Distance-Time Diagram for Shock Wave

Distance

X
Shockwave 1

Shockwave 2

Time
Norman W. Garrick
 Calculation of Shockwave Travel

usw = (q2-q1) / (k2-k1)

Shockwave 1

State 1 State 2
q = 500 veh/hr q = 0 veh/hr
k = 10 veh/mi k = 260 veh/mi

The speed of the shockwave can be calculated using the above equation

The sign is important so remember to number the travel states from upstream to downstream

If the sign is +ve it means that the shockwave is moving downstream

Norman W. Garrick
 Calculation of Shockwave Travel

Shockwave 1

State 1 State 2
q = 500 veh/hr q = 0 veh/hr
k = 10 veh/mi k = 260 veh/mi

Speed of Shockwave
usw1 = (q2-q1) / (k2-k1)
(0-500) / (260-10) = - 2 mph

Shockwave 1 is moving upstream at 2 mph

What is the length of the queue after 3 minutes

Length = u*t = 2 mph * 3/60 hr = 0.1 mile

How many vehicles are in the queue after 3 minutes

no. of vehicles = k * L = 260 *0.1 = 26 vehicles
Norman W. Garrick
 Calculation of Shockwave Travel

Shockwave 1 Shockwave 2

State 1 State 2 State 3

q = 500 veh/hr q = 0 veh/hr q = 1000 veh/hr
k = 10 veh/mi k = 260 veh/mi k = 110 veh/mi

Speed of shockwave 2

usw2 = (q3-q2) / (k3-k2)

(1000-0) / (110-260) = - 6.67 mph

Shockwave 2 is moving upstream at 6.67 mph

Norman W. Garrick
 Calculation of Shockwave Travel

Shockwave 1 Shockwave 2

State 1 State 2 State 3

q = 500 veh/hr q = 0 veh/hr q = 1000 veh/hr
k = 10 veh/mi k = 260 veh/mi k = 110 veh/mi

How long will it take to clear the queue if the flagman held the
queue for 3 minutes
Length after 3 minutes = u*t = 2 mph * 3/60 hr = 0.1 mile

usw1 = - 2 mph usw2 = - 6.67 mph

Therefore the queue will dissipate at rate of 4.67 mph
Time to dissipate a 0.1 mile queue is L/speed
0.1 mile / 4.67 mph = 0.021 hr = 12.6 minutes

Norman W. Garrick