Lecture 5

Red light Turning green signal Problem.

We assume the elementary model of traffic flow, so that the traffic density
satisfies
+ 1− =0 --------------eq.1
Behind the red light = 0 , the traffic density is maximum, while ahead of
the light the traffic density is zero, so that at the moment ( = 0) the light
turns green the initial conditions are
<0
,0 = --------------eq.2
0 >0
From eq.(1) the characteristic equations are:
= ( )
= -------------eq.3

Where ( ) = 1− . The last term of eq.(3) implies that is

constant.
The first equation of eq.(3) gives
= ( )
= 1−

=0
=
− = ( )

= 1− +
At = 0, = (start value). Therefore = . Hence
= 1− + -------------eq.4

=− =

= =0
As is constant along the characteristics i.e.
<0
,0 = ,0 =
0 >0
From eq.(4) = 0 as > 0 gives
= +
>
= < 0 gives
=− +

<−
Thus
<−
, = .
0 >
Now , ? in the fanlike region − < < . We note that there is a
family of fanlike characteristics that all start at = 0(pass signal). Thus in this
region

= 1−
 , = (1 − )

Hence
<−
, = (1 − ) − < <
0 >
This shows density is maximum before signal red, then the lighter density(slowing
moving traffic) is behind the lower density (faster moving traffic), as a result of the
traffic light turning green. Then after > ; density is zero. This all can be
understood from the following diagram.

=0
=− =

Note: For quasilinear PDE, it is quite usual for characteristics to intersect. The
resolution will require the introduction of moving discontinuities called shock waves.
For detail go Hyberman ∮ 12.6.4.
General first-order quasi-linear PDEs
The general form of quasi-linear PDEs is
+ = -------------eq.1
where , , are functions of , , . The initial condition ( , 0) is
specified at = 0,
, 0 = ( ).
We will convert the PDE to a sequence of ODE, drastically simplifying its
solution. This general technique is known as the method of
characteristics and is useful for finding analytic and numerical solutions.
Method of Characteristics (Parametrically)
We represent the characteristic curves parametrically,
= ; , = ; , = ; ------------eq.2
Where labels where we start on the initial curve (i.e. the initial value
of at = 0).
The parameter tells us how far along the characteristic curve. Thus ( , , ) are now
thought of as trajectories parametrized by and . The semi-colon indicates that is a
parameter to be labeled different characteristic curves, while governs the evolution
of the solution along a particular characteristic.
The sequence of ODEs in conjunction with some initial conditions specified at = 0.
We are free to choose the value of at = 0; for simplicity we take = 0 at = 0.
Thus 0; = 0. Since changes with , we choose to denote the initial value of
( ; ) along the −axis (when = 0) in in the space-time domain. Thus the initial
value (at = 0) are
0; = , 0; = 0, 0; = ---------------------eq.3

Example problem
Consider the following quasi-linear PDE,
+ 1+ = 0, ,0 = ( )

where = ±1 and the initial condition ( ) is

< −1 1,
1, >1 2+ −1 ≤ ≤ 0
= =
2− , | |≤1 2− 0< ≤1
1, >1
Thus the parametric solutions is defined by the ODEs

= = = --------------eq.1

Which gives the following ODEs:

= 1, =1+ , =0 --------------eq.2

From last equation of eq. (2) gives

=
At = 0, = we have = , 0 = ( ) (given). Hence
= ( ) ------------eq.3
From the first equation of eq. (2) gives
= +
At = 0, = 0 yields = 0, so we have
= ------------eq.4
Integrating the second ODE of eq. (2) and imposing the ICs gives;
; = 1+ + -----------eq.5
Validity of solution and break-down (shock formation)

To find the time and position when and where a shock first forms, we find
the Jacobian:
( , )
= =
( , )
= − = −( + 1)
Shocks occur (the solution breaks down) = 0, i.e. where
=−
The first shock occurs at
= min(− ( )
)
In this course, we will not consider what happens after the shock. You
can find more about this in ∮ 12.9 of Myint-U & Debnath. We now take
cases for = ±1.
For = 1, since min = −1, we have
1
=− =1
( )
Any of the characteristics where = ( ) = −1 can be used to find the
location of the shock at = 1. For e.g., with = 1/2, the location of the shock
at = 1 is
1 1 1 1
= 1+ 1+ = 1+ 2− 1 + = 3.
2 2 2 2

Any other value of where ( ) = −1 will give the same .

For = −1, since = 1, we have
1
= =1
( )
Any of the characteristics where = = 1 can be used to find the
location of the shock at = 1. for e.g., with = −1/2, the location of the shock
at = 1 is
1 1 1 1
= 1− − 1− = 1− 2− 1 − = −1.
2 2 2 2

Any other value of where = 1 will give the same .