Chapter Two

Traffic Flow Fundamentals

Section 1: Traffic Stream Variables

Section 2: Macroscopic Models of Traffic Flow
Section 3: Shock Waves in Traffic
Section 4: Highway Capacity and Level of Service

1
 Shock Waves in Traffic

• A shock wave is said to exist whenever traffic streams

of varying stream conditions meet. To a stationary
observer, he would see either the formation or
dissipation of a platoon of vehicles.
• Example, vehicles stopped by a red light are packed at
jam density (with zero speed and flow). Upstream of
the stationary platoon, vehicles approach the platoon
at the approach conditions. The shock wave between
the approach vehicles and the jammed vehicles
defined by the last vehicle to be stopped is, in fact,
moving in the negative (upstream) direction.
2
3
 Illustration

Approach Queuing Release

traffic traffic traffic

4
Shockwave equation

(kb, qb)
(ka, qa)

5
Shockwave equation

6
 Example

From the Figure on p. 4, determine the magnitude and direction

of the speeds of the two shock waves AA and BB and determine
the rate at which the platoon is growing behind the truck.

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8
 Example

• In the last example, assume that the truck exited the traffic
stream 10 minutes after slowing down. Vehicles at the front of
the platoon were then released to a speed of 20 mph and a
concentration of 70 veh/mi. Compute the amount of time it
took the 10 mi/h platoon to disappear.

The release conditions imply a flow of (20 mi/h)(70

veh/mi) = 1400 veh/h. (Point 3 on the previous graph)

At the end of 10 min, the platoon had grown to a

length of: L=(7.9 mi/h)(1/6 h) = 1.3 mi

With a density of 120 veh/mi, the platoon had

(1.3)(120) = 156 vehicles. 9
10
 Example

• In the last example, determine the speed of the shock

wave that commenced at the instant when the 10
mi/h platoon was totally eliminated.

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Other examples

12
 Regions of different densities separated
by shockwaves
S p ace (T raffic D irection )

In cident L ocation

In cident In cident
start tim e clearance tim e T im e
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 Argyle 1
Argyle 1
Street
Street

Portland Portland time

time
Street Street

Existing plan: Portland Street VGNC plan: Portland Street

Argyle 2 Argyle 2

Street Street

Shanghai time Shanghai time

Street Street

Existing plan: Shanghai Street VGNC plan: Shanghai Street

Argyle 3 Argyle 3

Street Street

Reclamation time
time Street
14
Existing plan: Reclamation Street VGNC plan: Reclamation Street
 3
Reclamation
Street

2
Shanghai
Street

Portland 1
Street

Argyle time
Street 15
 Shockwave Construction
C

A B

A D C
B
A
A
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 Shockwave Construction

C
A

D B

A D
C C
D
B C A
A A
A A
17