Low-speed merging maneuvers performed within a free-flow stream are believed to trigger congestion. These accelerating moving bottlenecks introduce local constraints that can disturb the flow at a local or global scale. Low-speed merging maneuvers are also suspected to cause capacity drop. Using the kinematic wave theory, this paper explores the analytical solution of a simple first-order model when moving boundary conditions are introduced. The paper shows that shock waves initiated by low-speed merging maneuvers are a linear transformation of the moving boundary conditions, no matter the shape of the moving boundary condition. These results are then applied to typical situations to show that the interaction of two moving boundaries can modify the analytical solution of the problem. The results are then extended to multiple merging maneuvers to show that they can interact. Every possible interaction between two identical merging maneuvers is explored to identify the conditions that lead to global congestion. Finally, these results are used to propose an analytical formulation of the capacity drop for multiple merging maneuvers at a single location. It is shown that capacity drop is related to the demands on the minor and major streams and to the speed of the merging vehicle.
Onset of Congestion from Low-Speed Merging Maneuvers within Free-Flow Traffic Stream
Analytical Solution
Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board ; 2188 , 1 ; 96-107
01.01.2010
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IDENTIFYING AND QUANTIFYING CONGESTION WITHIN A TRAFFIC STREAM
Europäisches Patentamt | 2024
|Identifying and quantifying congestion within traffic flow
Europäisches Patentamt | 2024
|Robot Routing Approaches for Convoy Merging Maneuvers
Tema Archiv | 2011
|Modeling of freeway ramp merging process observed during traffic congestion
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2002
|