Numerical Simulation of a Mathematical

Traffic Flow Model based on a Nonlinear

Velocity-Density Function
M H Kabir, M O Gani & L S Andallah

Department of Mathematics
Jahangirnagar University
Savar Dhaka

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Traffic problems amenable to scientific
analysis
 How to develop traffic light system,
 Whether to change a two-way street to a one way
street,
 Where to construct entrances, exits, overpasses
 How many lanes to be build for a highway
 Where to build a highway or to develop alternative
forms of transportation like trains or trams, etc.

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Traffic Control at a Crossing

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 Mathematical models of traffic flow
There are three types of mathematical models of
traffic flow, such as

 Microscopic model
 Macroscopic (Fluid-dynamic) model
 Kinetic (Boltzmann) model

We deal with Macroscopic model.

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 Outlines of the work
 We consider a classical mathematical model which has been
approximated by density-velocity relationship
 We find the exact solution of the model by method of characteristics.
 The solution is in implicit form and not suitable to incorporate data.
 Way out: Numerical solution of the model.
 We develop finite difference scheme and establish the well-posed-
ness and stability condition.
 Implement the scheme for error estimation.
 We provide convergent test numerically.
 We study some qualitative behavior with respect to various
parameters.

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 Macroscopic Traffic Variables
 Car Density : ρ (t ,:=x#(Cars)
) in 1 KM

 Car Velocity : v(t , x) := dx / dt

 Car Flow : := Average #(Cars)
q (t , x)passing per hour
 Relationship:
q(t , x) = ρ (t , x)v(t , x)

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 Macroscopic model of traffic flow
The model is based on continuum hypothesis & law of
conservation of mass and fomulates a nonlinear hyperbolic PDE.

∂ρ ∂q ( ρ )
+ =0
∂t ∂x
This model was developed by Lighthill, Whitham and Richards
(LWR) in 1955. This is also called LWR model.

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 Qualitative density-velocity relationship
v( ρ = 0) = vmax , v( ρ )
dv
≤ 0, ρ

dρ
v( ρ = ρ max ) = 0.
ρ
 ρ2   ρ3 
Non - linear : v( ρ ) = vmax 1 − 2  ⇒ q ( ρ ) = vmax  ρ − 2 
 ρ max   ρmax 
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 Qualitative flux-density relationship
 Qualitative Analysis  Fundamental diagram
q( ρ = 0) = 0, q ( ρ)
v( ρ max ) = 0
⇒ q( ρ max ) = ρ maxv( ρ max ) = 0.
q ≥ 0 in 0 < ρ < ρ max ρ
dq dv
Slope: = v( ρ ) + ρ
dρ dρ 9
 Nonlinear PDE as an IVP

 Non-linear v( ρ )
∂ρ ∂  ρ 2

 + 
 ρ ⋅ vmax (1 − 2 )  =0
 ∂t ∂x  ρ max 
ρ(t , x ) = ρ ( x )
 0 0

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 Exact Solution of the IVPs
 By the Method of Characteristics

  3ρ  
2
ρ ( x, t ) = ρ 0 ( x0 ,0) = ρ 0 ( x0 ) = ρ 0  x − Vm ax 1 − 2  t 
  ρ m ax  

Solution in Implicit Form

Very difficult to formulate ρ 0 ( xfrom
) data
Way Out : Numerical solution of IBVP
Simplified exact sol can be used for err est of num sol
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 Numerical solution of IBVP
 Finite Difference Discretization of the IBVP

 ∂ρ ∂q ( ρ )
 ∂t + ∂x = 0

with I.C. ρ (t0 , x) = ρ 0 ( x)
and B.C. ρ (t, a) = ρ (t )
 a


 ρ 3

Non - linear q ( ρ ) = vmax  ρ − 2 
 ρmax 
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 Explicit Finite Difference Scheme
∂ρ
 Discretizaton of by forward difference
∂t
∂q
 Discretizaton of by backward difference
∂x
⇒ρ i
n+ 1
[
∆t n n
]
= ρ − qi − qi − 1 ; i = 0,, M − 1; n = 1,, N
i
n

∆x ρ i
n +1

 Stencil
ρ in−1 ρ in 13
 Well-posed-ness & Convergence
3ρ 2
 Well-posed-ness q′( ρ ) = vmax (1 − 2 ) ≥ 0
ρ max
for non-linear case:
⇒ ρ max
2
≥ 3ρ 2 (*)
⇒ q′( ρ ) ≤ vmax
 Stability condition: vmax ∆t
 ⇒
(*) can be ensured via (**) by γ= ≤ 1 (**)
∆x

ρmax =k max ρ0 ( x ), k ≥ 3
x

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Error Estimation

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Convergence

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 Numerical Simulation
 v max= 60.12 km/hour, ρ max
=155/km  Initial density
 For 3 Minutes in 1800 time steps

∆x
 Stability condition : ∆t ≤
v max
 Well-posed condition: c=5
 5 KM Highway in 101 grid pts, 1
step =50 m
 Boundary value density =150/ km
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Computed Traffic density
 Nonlinear

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Computed Traffic Velocity

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Computed Traffic Flow

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Larger vmax & ρ max :Faster Traffic

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 Future Interest
 Simulation of Multi-lane Traffic model

∂ρ1 ∂( ρ1v1 ) ρ 2 ρ1
+ = 1− 2
∂t ∂x T2 T1
∂ρ 2 ∂( ρ 2 v2 ) ρ1 ρ 2
+ = 2− 1
∂t ∂x T1 T2
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References
 Randall J. LeVeque, “Numerical Methods for Conservation
Laws”, second Edition, 1992, Springer.
 Nicholas Linesch, Michael Perez, “A Nonlinear Traffic Model
Dynamics on a One Dimensional lane”, June 2007
 Arpad Takaci, “Mathematical and Simulation models of Traffic
Flow”, PAMM. Proc. Appl. Math. Mech. 5, 633-634 (2005)/
DOI 10.002/pamm. 200510293, 2005 WILEY- VCH Verlag
GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
 Dirk Helbeing, Andreas Greiner, “Modeling and Simulation of
Multilane Traffic Flow”, Phys. Rev. E 55, 5498-5508(1997)

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND
ATTENTION

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