Question1. Given s = 0.

30 / (60 - u), derive the relationships u-k, u-q, and q-

k. Estimate the capacity (i.e., qmax) of the roadway. (Note: s - spacing in miles, u -
speed in miles per hour (mph)).

Solution:

We know that: s=1/k

and s=0.3/(60-u) (i)

60 u
k
0.30
hence, (ii)

part a) relationships u-k,

from (ii) we have:

k 200 3.33u
u 60 0.30k

part b) relationships u-q,

q uk
we know : (iii)

q uk 200u 3.33u 2
from (ii) and (iii),

part c) relationships k-q,

q 60k 0.30k 2
from (ii) and (iii),

part d) relationships k-q,

dq
qmax , set 0
dk
To find
 60 0.60k 0
k m 100 veh / mi
qmax 3000 veh / hr

Question 2. The table below contains speed and concentration observations for
different times on a rural road. Plot this data and use a trial-and-error approach (or a
line fitting program like excel) to fit an equation of the form , u = a k + c. where u -
speed, k - concentration, a and c are constants.

Draw the u-k, u-q, and q-k plots showing both the fitted line (using the equations) and
the actually data points. Estimate from the fitted line maximum flow, velocity and
concentration at maximum flow, the jam concentration

Concentration
11
,k 20 27 35 44 52 58 60 64 70 75 82 90 100
5
(vehicle/mi)
Speed, u 53. 48. 44. 40. 37. 35. 34. 27. 20. 17. 14. 13. 11.
8.0
(mph) 2 1 8 1 3 2 1 2 4 5 6 1 2
Solution:

Part a) Draw the u-k,

60
50
f(x) = - 0.53x + 62.56
40
30
Speed
20
10
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Concentration

from plot u = -0.53k + 62.6 (or k=115.6-1.79u) (i)

Part b) Draw the u-q,

We know q=uk (ii)

From (i) and (iii) q= 62.6k-0.53k^2

2500

2000

1500

Flow
1000

500

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

Density

Part c) Draw q-k,

From (i) and (iii) q= 115.6.u-1.79.u^2

60

40

Speed
20

0
800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 2200
Flow

Part d) Find flow, velocity and concentration at maximum flow, the

jam concentration,

dq
qmax , set 0
dk
To find
 km = 53 veh/mi

qmax = 2070 veh/hr

@ qmax, u = 34.5 mph and

kj = 125 veh/mi

Question 3. A study of traffic using a bridge showed that the speed-concentration

relationship is u = 17.2 ln (228/k).

(Note: k - concentration in veh/mi, u - speed in miles per hour (mph)).

Find the a) free-flow speed (uf), b) the theoretical maximum flow on the bridge (qmax),
c) the speed (um) and concentration (km) that correspond to the maximum flow, and d)
the jam concentration (kj).

Solution:

Part a) free-flow speed,

To find uf, we should set k=0,

u = 17.2 ln (228/k), u=17.2 ln(228/0)= 17.2 il(infinity)= infinity

Theoretical uf= infinity, but in reality the free flow speed cannot be infinity.

Part b and c) the theoretical maximum flow on the bridge (qmax),

c) the speed (um) and concentration (km) that correspond to the
maximum flow,
 228
q uk 17.2k ln 17.2k ln 228 ln k
k
dq
Capacity occurs at 0:
dk
1
17.2 k ln 228 ln k 0
k
For k 0 : ln k m ln 228 1 4.43
km 84 veh / mi
Then, qmax 17.2 841 1445 veh / hr
qmax
um 17.2 mi / hr
km

Part d) the jam concentration (kj),

To find kf, we should set u=0,

u = 17.2 ln (228/k), 0=17.2 ln(228/k),

228
Hence, ln 0 and
kj
k j 228 veh / mi

Question 4.A vehicle stream is interrupted and stopped by a flag-person. The traffic volume
for the vehicle stream before the interruption is 1200 veh/hr and the concentration is 100 veh/mi.
Assume that the jam concentration is 240 veh/mi. After five minutes the flag-person releases the
traffic. The flow condition for the release is a traffic volume of 1600 veh/hr and a speed of 20
mph.

Determine the length of the queue and the number of vehicles in the queue after five minutes.
Also calculate how long it will take for the queue to dissipate after the flag-person releases the
traffic.

Solution:
Approach Platoon Release
Conditions: Conditions: Conditions:

q = 1200 veh/hr q = 0 veh/hr q = 1600 veh/hr

u = 12 mi/hr u = 0 mi/hr u = 20 mi/hr

k = kj = 240
k = 100 veh/mi k = 80 veh/mi
veh/mi

Shock wave at the rear of the platoon

Beginning at t = 0:

Usw1 = (0-1200)/(240 100) = -8.57 mi/hr

Shockwave 1 is moving upstream at -8.57 mph

Shock wave at the front of platoon

at t = 5 min, it was defined between the jam and release conditions:

Usw2 = (1600-0)/(80-240) = -10 mi/hr

Shockwave 2 is moving upstream at 10 mph

Time for queue of 0.714 mi to dissipate

Speed of dissipation = -10 (-8.57) = - 1.43 mi/hr

Time to dissipate a 0.5 mile queue is L/speed

Time = Length / speed = 0.714 / 1.43 = 0.5 hour

Question 5.Traffic is traveling at 40 mph and a flow rate of 1000 veh/hr when a tractor going at
15 mph turns on to the road. The platoon that develops behind the tractor has a density of 60
veh/mi. After 0.75 mile, the tractor turns off the main road. The release travel condition for the
vehicles in the platoon is at a flow rate of 1200 veh/hr and a density of 40 veh/mi.

Calculate the length of the platoon that develops and the time that it will take for it to dissipate
after the tractor leaves

Solution:
Part a) Length of Platoon when truck turns off main road

Approach Platoon
Conditions: Conditions:

q = 1000 veh/hr q = 900 veh/hr

u = 40 mi/hr u = 15 mi/hr

k = 25 veh/mi k = 60 veh/mi

Step 1- The shock wave at the rear of the platoon speed

(between the approach and platoon conditions):

Usw1 = (900-1000)/(60-25) = -2.86 mi/hr

Step2- Shock wave at front of truck has same speed as truck, Usw1 = 15 mi/hr

Step 3-Speed of growth of platoon,

Uswg = 15 ( - 2.86)= 17.86 mi/hr

Step 4- Time the truck takes to turn off, = 0.75 / 15 = 0.05 hr

Step 5- Length of Queue = density*distance

= 0.05*17.86 = 0.893miles

Part b) Time for platoon o to dissipate

Approach Platoon Condition after
Conditions: Conditions: Truck:

q = 1000 veh/hr q = 900 veh/hr q = 1200 veh/hr

u = 40 mi/hr u = 15 mi/hr u = 30 mi/hr

k = 25 veh/mi k = 60 veh/mi k = 40 veh/mi

Shock wave at the back of platoon still has speed of -2.86 mi/hr

Shock wave at front of platoon with truck gone,

Usw2 = (1200-900)/(40-60) = -15 mi/hr

Speed of dissipation of platoon, Uswr = - 15 ( - 2.86)= - 12.14 mi/hr

Time for platoon of 0.893 miles to dissipate=Distance/Speed

= 0.893 / 12.14 = 0.074 hr = 4.41 minutes