TRAFFIC FLOW FUNDAMENTALS

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this chapter, students should be able to:

- Understand the fundamental relation among traffic parameters

5
0 CONTENTS
0 Contents ....................................................................................................................................... 2
1 Definitions ..................................................................................................................... 3
2 Basic Elements of Highway Traffic Analysis ................................................................ 3
2.1 Speed, Flow And Density of a Stream of Traffic................................................ 3
2.1.1 Speed-density relationship ............................................................................. 5
2.1.2 Flow-density relationship ................................................................................. 6
2.1.3 Speed-flow relationship .................................................................................. 7
2.2 Example ............................................................................................................... 8
3 Assignment ................................................................................................................. 11
4 References ................................................................................................................. 11
1 DEFINITIONS
 Speed, ( ) – the rate of movement of traffic is expressed in metric units in
kilometers per hour (kph)
 Density, ( ) – is the number of vehicles per unit length of the road at that
instant is expressed as the number of vehicles per lane-km of the road.
 Volume, ( ) – is a measure to quantify the traffic flow. Expressed as the
number of vehicles that pass across a given transverse line of the road during
unit time.
 Flow, ( ) – Rate of traffic, vehicle per hour (vph); equivalent hourly rate

2 BASIC ELEMENTS OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC ANALYSIS

The functional effectiveness of a highway is measured in terms of its ability to assist
and accommodate the flow of vehicles with both safety and efficiency. In order to
measure its level of effectiveness, certain parameters associated with the highway
must be measured and analyzed. These properties include:

 The quantity of traffic

 The type of vehicles within the traffic stream
 The distribution of flow over a period of time (usually 24 hours)
 The average speed of the traffic stream
 The density of the traffic flow.

Analysis of these parameters will directly influence the scale and layout of the
proposed highway, together with the type and quantity of materials used in its
construction. This process of examination is termed traffic analysis and the sections
below deal with relationships between the parameters which lie at its basis.

2.1 SPEED, FLOW AND DENSITY OF A STREAM OF TRAFFIC

The traffic flow, , a measure of the volume of traffic on a highway, is defined as the
number of vehicles, , passing some given point on the highway in a given time
interval, , i.e.:

= (2.1)

In general terms, is expressed in vehicles per unit time.

The number of vehicles on a given section of highway can also be computed in terms
of the density or concentration of traffic as follows:
(2.2)
=

where the traffic density, , is a measure of the number of vehicles, , occupying a

length of roadway, .
For a given section of road containing vehicles per unit length , the average speed
of the vehicles is termed the space mean speed (the average speed for all
vehicles in a given space at a given discrete point in time).

Therefore:
(1/ ) ∑ ( ) (2.3a)
u =

where is the length of road used for measuring the speed of the th vehicle.

or

= = (2.3b)
∑

where, ∑ is

If the expression for is divided by the expression for , the expression for is
obtained:

q÷ = ÷ = × = = (2.4)

Thus, the three parameters , and are directly related under stable traffic
conditions:
q = uk (2.5)

This constitutes the basic relationship between traffic flow, space mean speed and
density.

Time mean speed ( ) is the arithmetic mean of the speeds of vehicles passing a point
on a highway during an interval of time. The time mean speed is found by:

∑
=

The time mean speed is always higher than the space mean speed. The difference
between these speeds tends to decrease as the absolute values of speeds increase.
It has been shown from field data that the relationship between time mean speed
and space mean speed can be given as

σ
= +

Time headway (ℎ) is the difference between the time the front of a vehicle arrives at
a point on the highway and the time the front of the next vehicle arrives at that same
point. Time headway is usually expressed in seconds.

Space headway is the distance between the front of a vehicle and the front of the
following vehicle and is usually expressed in meters.
2.1.1 Speed-density relationship
In a situation where only one car is travelling along a stretch of highway, densities (in
vehicles per kilometer) will by definition be near to zero and the speed at which the
car can be driven is determined solely by the geometric design and layout of the
road; such a speed is termed free-flow speed as it is in no way hindered by the
presence of other vehicles on the highway. As more vehicles use the section of
highway, the density of the flow will increase and their speed will decrease from their
maximum free-flow value ( ) as they are increasingly more inhibited by the driving
maneuvers of others. If traffic volumes continue to increase, a point is reached where
traffic will be brought to a stop, thus speeds will equal zero ( = 0), with the density at
its maximum point as cars are jammed bumper to bumper (termed jam density, ).

Thus, the limiting values of the relationship between speed and density are as
follows:

When = 0, =

When = 0, = .

Various attempts have been made to describe the relationship between speed and
density between these two limiting points. Greenshields (1934) proposed the simplest
representation between the two variables, assuming a linear relationship between the
two.

In mathematical terms, this linear relationship gives rise to the following equation:

= 1− (2.6)

This assumption of linearity allows a direct mathematical linkage to be formed

between the speed, flow and density of a stream of traffic.

This linear relationship between speed and density, put forward by Greenshields
(1934), leads to a set of mathematical relationships between speed, flow and

(2.7)
density as outlined in the next section. The general form of Greenshields’ speed-
density relationship can be expressed as:

= +

where and are constants.

2.1.2 Flow-density relationship

Combining Equations 2.5 and 2.6, the following direct relationship between flow and
density is derived:

= = 1− ×

therefore

(2.8)
= −

This is a parabolic relationship and is illustrated below

In order to establish the density at which maximum flow occurs, the equation is
differentiated and set equal to zero as follows:

2
= 1− =0

Since ≠ 0, the term within the brackets must equal zero, therefore:

2
1− =0

thus

= (2.9)
2
, the density at maximum flow, is thus equal to half the jam density, . Its location
is shown
2.1.3 Speed-flow relationship
In order to derive this relationship, Equation 2.6 is rearranged as:

= 1− (2.10)

By combining this formula with Equation 2.5, the following relationship is derived:

= − (2.11)

This relationship is again parabolic in nature.

In order to find the speed at maximum flow, Equation 4.12 is differentiated and put
equal to zero:
2
= 1− =0

since ≠ 0, the term within the brackets must equal zero, therefore:

2
1− =0

thus

= (2.12)
2
, the speed at maximum flow, is thus equal to half the free-flow speed, .
Its location is shown in Fig. below.
Combining Equations 4.9 and 4.12, the following expression for maximum flow
is derived:

= × = ×
2 2
therefore

(2.13)
 =
4

2.2 EXAMPLE
1. Figure below shows vehicles traveling at constant speeds on a two-lane
highway between sections and with their positions and speeds obtained at
an instant of time by photography. An observer located at point observes
the four vehicles passing point during a period of sec. The velocities of the
vehicles are measured as 45, 45, 40, and 30 mi/h, respectively. Calculate the
flow, density, time mean speed, and space mean speed.
 Solution:
The flow is calculated by
× 3600
=
4 × 3600 14,400
= = ℎ/ℎ
With equal to the distance between and (ft), density is obtained by
=
4
= × 5280 = 70.4 ℎ/
300
The time mean speed is found by
1
=

30 + 40 + 45 + 45
= = 40 /ℎ
4
The space mean speed is found by
=
∑ (1/ )
=
∑
300
=
∑
where is the time it takes the th vehicle to travel from to at speed ,
and ( ) is the distance between and .
=
1.47
= = 4.54 sec
1.47 × 45
= = 4.54 sec
1.47 × 45
= = 5.10 sec
1.47 × 40
= = 6.80 sec
1.47 × 30

300 × 4
= = 57.0811 ft/sec
4.54 + 4.54 + 5.10 + 6.80

= 38.9189 /ℎ

2. Two platoons of cars are timed over a distance of 0.5km. Their flows are
recorded. The first group is timed at 40 seconds, with the flow at 1350 vehicles
per hour. The second group take 45 seconds, with a flow of 1800 vehicles per
hour.

Determine the maximum flow of the traffic stream.

Solution:
Group 1 has an average speed of 45km/h
Group 2 has an average speed of 40km/h
Group 1, k value = 1350/45 = 30v/km
 Group 2, k value = 1800/40 = 45v/km
To get the consequent relationship between speed and density based on
the
above two results, use co-ordinate geometry:
− = ( − )
where,
−
=
−
= speed
= density
The slope, , of the line joining the above two results = -5/15 = -1/3
− 45 = −1/3( − 30)
+ /3 = 45 + 10
+ /3 = 55
Examining the boundary conditions:
Free flow speed = 55 km/h
Jam density = 165 v/km
Max flow = (55×165)/4 = 2269 v/h

3. The following data were observed for four vehicles traversing a distance of 2
mile segment of the Mandaue Reclamation Project. It is required to compute
the space mean speed of these vehicles.
Vehicle Time (min)
A 1.2
B 1.4
C 1.5
D 1.6

Solution:
=
∑
=4 =2
= 1.2 + 1.4 + 1.5 + 1.6 = 5.7
4(2)
= = 1.4035
5.7
≈ 84.21 /ℎ

4. The following travel times were observed for five vehicles traveling a one mile
segment of the Cebu South Reclamation Project. It is required to estimate the
time mean speed of these vehicles.
Vehicle Time (min)
A 1.19
B 1.22
C 1.36
D 1.48
 E 1.51

Solution:
∑
=
=1
1 1 1 1 1
= + + + +
1.19 1.22 1.36 1.48 1.51
= 3.73323
3.7332
= = 0.7466 /
5
≈ 44.7988 ℎ

5. Data on traffic passing thru an intersection indicates that vehicles moved at a

space mean speed of 40 mph where the density is 22 vehicles per hour per
mile. Compute the rate of flow in vehicles per hour.
Solution:
Use
=
= 22 × 40
= 880 ℎ ℎ

6. The rate of flow at a point in the highway is 1200 vehicles per hour. Find the
space mean speed if the density is 25 vehicles per mile.
Solution:
Use
=
1200 = 25
= 48 ℎ

3 ASSIGNMENT

4 REFERENCES
Cascetta, E. (2001). Transportation Systems Engineering: Theory and Methods.
Springer-Science.

Garber, N. J., & Hoel, L. A. (2009). Traffic and Highway Engineering (4th ed.). Toronto,
Canada: CEngage Learning.

Jotin Khisty, C., & Kent Lall, B. (2016). Transportation Engineering. Pearsons.
Mathew, T. V., & Rao, K. (2007). Introduction to Transportation Engineering.

NPTEL. (2007). Introduction to Transportation Engineering.

Ortúzar, J. d., & Willumsen, L. G. (2011). Modelling Transport. New Delhi, India: John
Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Teodorovic, D., & Janic,, M. (2017). Transportation Engineering: Theory, Practice, and
Modeling. Elsevier Inc.