Solving a Riemann problem for the multiclass model

Let’s consider the multiclass traffic model. The two main variables 𝜌1 or 𝜌2 represent,
respectively the car and the truck densities. Let denote U the vector characterising these main
variables: 𝑼(𝜌1, 𝜌2).

The model in conservative form is given below. The expressions for the cars- and trucks-
𝜌1 +𝜌2 𝜌1 +𝜌2
fundamental diagrams are: 𝑉1 = 𝑉1𝑚𝑎𝑥 (1 − ) and 𝑉2 = 𝑉2𝑚𝑎𝑥 (1 − ) with 𝜌𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
𝜌𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝜌𝑚𝑎𝑥
0.2 𝑣𝑒ℎ/𝑚, 𝑉1𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 20 𝑚/𝑠 and 𝑉12
𝑚𝑎𝑥
= 15 𝑚/𝑠.

𝜕𝑼 𝜕𝑭(𝑼) 𝜌 𝑉 (𝜌 , 𝜌 )
+ = 0 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑭 ൬ 1 1 1 2 ൰
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜌2𝑉2(𝜌1, 𝜌2)

1/ Express the model in the quasi-linear form

2/ Let’s consider the following Riemann problem at time t=0.

The related state-diagram is the following. Note that Um is (0.0536, 0.024).

Determine the types of waves that separate Ul and Um on one hand and Um and Ur on the
other hand. Draw the associated space-time diagram.
3/ Determine the speed of the different waves from the space-time diagram.
Solutions

1/ The solution is given in the lectures. Let's derive the top cells of the A-matrix.

The first equation in conservative form is:

𝜕𝜌1 𝜕𝜌1𝑉1(𝜌1, 𝜌2) 𝜕𝜌1 𝜕𝑉 (𝜌 , 𝜌 ) 𝜕𝜌

+ =0 ⇔ + 𝜌1 1 1 2 + 𝑉1(𝜌1, 𝜌2) 1 = 0
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝜌1 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝜌 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝜌 𝜕𝜌
⇔ + 𝜌1 ൬ 1 ∗ 1 + 1 ∗ 2൰ + 𝑉1 1 = 0
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝜌1 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝜌2 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝜌1 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝜌 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝜌
⇔ + ൬𝑉1 + 𝜌1 1൰ ∗ 1 + 𝜌1 1 2 = 0
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝜌1 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝜌2 𝜕𝑥

We can derive similar expressions from the second equation in conservative form, and we
then have the model expressed in the quasi-linear form.
𝜕𝑉1 𝜕𝑉
𝑉1 + 𝜌1 𝜌1 1
𝜕𝑼 𝜕𝑼 ‫ۇ‬ 𝜕𝜌1 𝜕𝜌2 ‫ۊ‬
2/ + 𝑨(𝑼) = 0 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑨 ‫ۈ‬
𝜕𝑡 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑉 𝜕𝑉 ‫ۋ‬
𝜌2 2 𝑉2 + 𝜌2 2
‫ۉ‬ 𝜕𝜌1 𝜕𝜌2‫ی‬

Between Ul and Um, we have a rarefaction fan because Ul and Um are connected through a
integral curve.

Between Um and Ur, we have a shockwave because Um and Ur are connected through a
hugoniot locus.

The associated space-time diagram is:

 Shockwave

Rarefaction fan

3/ The speed waves within the rarefaction fan are between 𝜆1(𝑈𝑙) and 𝜆1(𝑈𝑚).

The generic expression of 𝜆1 is

𝑎 + 𝑑 − ξ𝛥 2
𝜆1 = 𝛥 = (𝑎 − 𝑑) + 4𝑏𝑐 ⬚
2
With a,b,c, d being the cells of the matrix A. Here we have (considering the expressions of the
fundamental diagrams):

𝜌1 + 𝜌2 𝑉1𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑉1𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑎 = 𝑉1𝑚𝑎𝑥 ൬1 − ൰ − 𝜌1 𝑏 = −𝜌1
‫ۇ‬ 𝜌𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝜌𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝜌𝑚𝑎𝑥 ‫ۊ‬
𝑨‫ۈ‬ 𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑚𝑎𝑥 ‫ۋ‬
𝑉2 𝜌1 + 𝜌2 𝑉2
𝑐 = −𝜌2 𝑑 = 𝑉2𝑚𝑎𝑥 ൬1 − ൰ − 𝜌2
‫ۉ‬ 𝜌𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝜌𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝜌𝑚𝑎𝑥 ‫ی‬

for Ul 𝜌1 = 0.12, 𝜌2 = 0.05. The numerical application leads to 𝛥 = 236.25 and 𝜆1 =

−12.93 𝑚/𝑠.

for Um 𝜌1 = 0.0536, 𝜌2 = 0.024. The numerical application leads to 𝛥 = 38.842 and 𝜆1

4.01 𝑚/𝑠. =

The shockwave speed is given by the Rankine-Hugoniot condition:

 𝜌 𝑉 (𝜌 ,𝜌 ) − 𝜌1 𝑟𝑉1(𝜌1 𝑟, 𝜌2 𝑟)
𝑠 = 1, 𝑚 1 1, 𝑚 2, 𝑚 , , , = 9.99 𝑚/𝑠
𝜌1 𝑚 − 𝜌1 𝑟
, ,