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Greenshield's Model

Inspection of a freeway data set reveals a free flow speed of 60 mph, a jam density of 180
vehicles per mile per lane, and an observed maximum flow of 2000 vehicles per hour. Determine
the linear equation for velocity for these conditions, and determine the speed and density at
maximum flow conditions. How do the theoretical and observed conditions compare?

Solution

vs= vf – vf/kj k (mph)

vs = 60 – 60/180 k = 60 – 0.333k

q = vsk

q = 60k-0.333k2

dq/dk = 60 –2(0.333)k

60 = 2(0.333)k

k= 90. 0 = kj/2 half of jam density

vm= 60-60/180 (90) = 30 mph = vf/2 = half of free flow speed

q= vs k

q = 30 (90) = 2700vph > 2000 vph

The theoretical value does not account for the field conditions that influence maximum flow.

Traffic Flow Model

A study of freeway flow at a particular site has resulted in a calibrated speed-density

relationship, as follows:

Us= 57.5(1-0.008k)

From this relationship:

a. Find the free-flow speed and jam density

b. Derive the equations describing flow versus speed and flow versus density.
c. Determine the capacity of the site mathematically
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Solution

A.) To solve for free-flow speed and jam density:

us = 57.5 –0.46k. Notice that this equation is linear with respect to space mean speed and density
and is of the form of Greenshield’s equation.

Greenshield’s equation: us= uf- (uf/kj)k

Free flow speed uf = 57.5 MPH

To calculate jam density: uf/kj = 0.46 gives kj = 125 vpm  

B.) To derive the equations for flow as a function of density:

q= usk

q = 57.5k-0.46k2 vph gives flow as a function of density ( note that it is a quadratic in k)

To derive flow as a function of speed:

0.46k=57.5-us

k=(57.5-us)/0.46 = 125-(us/0.46)

q = us(125-(us/0.46)) = 125us- us2/0.46 vph ( note that it is a quadratic in us)

C.) To determine the capacity of the site:

Need to determine the maximum flow:

dq/dk = 57.5 – 0.46(2)k =0

57.5=0.46(2)k

k = 57.5/(0.46(2)) = 62.5 veh per mile = km=density at maximum flow

q = 57.5k-0.46k2

q=57.5(62.5) –0.46(62.5)2
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q=3593.75 –1796.875

q = 1796.875 veh/hour = qm

speed at maxium flow = um = 57.5 –0.46(62.5) =28.75 mph

Shock Waves

A slow moving truck drives along the roadway at 10 MPH. The existing conditions on the
roadway before the truck enters are shown at point 1 below: 40 mph, flow of 1000 vehicles per
hour, and density of 25 vehicles per mile. The truck enters the roadway and causes a queue of
vehicles to build, giving the characteristics of point 2 below: flow of 1200 vehicles per hour and
a density of 120 vehicles per mile. Using the information provided below, find the velocity of the
shockwave at the front and back of the platoon.

Point 1: Normal flow ( us = 40 MPH, k=25 veh/mi, q= 1000 vph.

Point 2: Slow Truck: ( us = 10 MPH, k=120 veh/mi, q= 1200 vph

Solution
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Figures 3.6.2 and 3.6.3, shown below, illustrate the behavior of the vehicles that are impacted by
the shockwave.

The speed of the shockwave in front of the truck at point A-A ( q b= 0, kb = 0) can be found by
substituting the correct values into the general shockwave equation. Upon substitution, as shown
below, we find that the shockwave is moving at the same speed as the truck, or 10 MPH
downstream with reference to a stationary point on the roadway.
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Solving for the speed of the shockwave at the end of the platoon (B-B) is accomplished by
substituting the correct values into the general shockwave equation.

qa= 1000 vph, ka=25 vpm

qb= 1200 vph, kb =120 vpm

The (+) sign indicates that the shockwave is moving downstream with respect to a fixed
observer.

A-A moves forward relative to the roadway at 10 MPH

B-B moves forward relative to the roadway at 2.1 MPH

Platoon Growth: 10-2.1 = 7.9 MPH

Greenshield’s model
Example
The Blacksburg Middle school board hires you as a transportation engineer to ease complaints
from parents driving vehicles and making a left turn to the school entrance during the peak hour
in the morning (see Figure 1). The road is divided and has a left turn queueing island allowing
cars to stop before making the turn. Measurements at the road by the town engineer indicate that
traffic flow in this section has a jam density of 70 veh/km-lane and the free flow speed of 50
km/hr (restricted by the speed limit). Assume Greenshield’s model traffic flow conditions hold
true.
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The typical acceleration model for a car is known to be:

a = 4.0 – 0.1V

where: a is the acceleration of the car (in m/s2) and V is the vehicle speed in m/s. During the
morning peak period, traffic counters at the site measure an average of 20 vehicles per kilometer
per lane traveling from Radford to Blacksburg (see Figure 1).
Find the typical spacing (S) and the average headway (h) between vehicles traveling from
Radford to Blacksburg during the peak morning period.
Solution
Find the Spacing (Sp) between vehicles. Since the density of the traffic flow is known to be 20
veh/km-la we compute the spacing as the reciprocal of the density
Sp= 1
k
=1
20
= 0.05 kilometers
Sp = 50 meters
To find the headway we need to figure out how fast the cars are traveling on the road. We use
Greenshield’s model to estimate the speed when k = 20 veh/km-la.

Traveling at 35.71 km/hr (9.92 m/s) the headway (h) between successive cars is,
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h = 50
9.92
= 5.04 seconds