CIVENG 4TA4 – Winter 2024
Tutorial # 3
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Question 1
A rural two-way two-lane highway follows Greenberg’s model with the following characteristics:
• The speed corresponding to capacity = 50 km/h
• The jam density = 120 veh/km
On a given day, the traffic was stable, with an average density of 25 veh/km. A slow tractor enters
the highway, forcing traffic to reduce speed to 25 km/h. The tractor exits the highway after 6
minutes, allowing the queue that was formed behind it to be released at capacity conditions.
1) Determine the maximum length of the queue that is formed behind the tractor.
2) Determine the time needed for the queue to be fully dissipated (from the moment the tractor
exits the highway)
3) Plot the shockwave diagram and show all critical times and distances on your plot.
Solution
1) When the tractor enters the highway. A rear-forming shock wave will start as the traffic
conditions change from initial stable conditions (k = 25 veh/km) to the queue conditions (V = 25
km/h). The speed of the shock wave can be calculated according to the following equation:
𝑞2 − 𝑞1
𝑉𝑤1 =
𝑘2 − 𝑘1
Let’s get the flow corresponding to the given density of the stable conditions, using Greenberg’s
model:
𝐾𝐽
𝑞 = 𝐾𝑉𝑚 ln ( )
𝐾
120
𝑞 = 25 × 50 × ln ( ) = 1960.77 𝑣𝑝ℎ
25
Now, let’s get the flow and the density corresponding to the queue conditions (behind the tractor),
using Greenberg’s model:
𝑉𝐾𝑗
𝑞= 𝑉
( )
𝑒 𝑉𝑚
25 × 120
𝑞= 25 = 1819.59 𝑣𝑝ℎ
( )
𝑒 50
And k = q/v = 1819.59/25 = 72.78 veh/km
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Hence, the forming shock wave speed can be calculated as follows:
𝑞2 − 𝑞1
𝑉𝑤1 =
𝑘2 − 𝑘1
1819.59 − 1960.77
𝑉𝑤1 = = −2.95 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
72.78 − 25
The rate of queue formation = speed of the front of the queue – the rear shock wave speed
= 25 – (-2.95) = 27.95 km/h
The length of the queue = rate of queue formation * time that the tractor was on the highway
= 27.95 * 6 / 60 = 2.80 km
2) After the tractor exits the highway, we will have two shockwaves acting at the same time:
• Front-recovery shockwave: as traffic changes from the queue conditions to capacity
conditions.
• Rear-forming shockwave: as traffic continues to arrive upstream, with initial conditions,
and is forced to follow platoon conditions.
The speed of the recovery shock wave can be calculated according to the following equation:
𝑞𝑚 − 𝑞1
𝑉𝑤1 =
𝑘𝑚 − 𝑘1
According to Greenberg’s model, Km = Kj/e = 44.15 veh/km
And qm = Vm * Km = 50 * 44.15 = 2207.28 vph
Hence, the recovery shock wave speed equals:
2207.28 − 1819.59
𝑉𝑤1 = = −13.54 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
44.15 − 72.78
The rear forming shockwave has not changed (Vw2 = -2.95 km/h)
Hence, The rate of queue formation = speed of the forming shock wave – the speed of the
recovery shock wave = -2.95 – (-13.54) = 10.58 km/h
Time for queue release = Queue length / rate of dissipation
= 2.80 / 10.58 = 0.264 hours = 15.85 minutes
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3) The shock wave diagram
Time (minutes)
0 5 10 15 20 25
3
2.5
2
Lmax = 2.80 km
Distance (km)
1.5
1
0.5
0
-0.5
-1 6 minutes 15.85 minutes
-1.5
Rear shock wave Front shock wave
Question 2
The traffic flow on a rural two-way two-lane highway has the following characteristics:
• Average speed = 70 km/h
• Average headway = 3 seconds
On a Monday morning, the eastbound traffic comes to a complete halt at 9:30 AM due to a major
collision. The towing trucks managed to tow the vehicles involved in the collisions and restore the
traffic flow at 9:45 AM. The traffic was released with the following conditions:
• Average speed = 60 km/h
• Average headway = 2.1 seconds
1) At what time the queue that was formed upstream of the collision will be fully dissipated?
2) How far upstream will the collision impact the traffic?
Solution
When the collision occurs, a rear-forming shock wave will start as the traffic conditions change
from initial conditions (v = 70 km/h and = 3 seconds) to jam conditions. The speed of the shock
wave can be computed according to the following equation:
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𝑞2 − 𝑞1
𝑉𝑤1 =
𝑘2 − 𝑘1
q2 = 0
q1 = 3600/3 = 1200 veh/h
k2 = kj
k1 = q1/v1 = 1200 / 70 = 17.14 veh/km
To get the jam density, we will assume that the traffic is described by GreenShield’s model.
We know to points on the V-K curve:
• Point # 1: initial traffic conditions (v = 70, k = 17.14)
• Point # 2: release conditions (v = 60, k = q/v = (3600/2.1)/60 = 28.57)
Using these two points, we can develop the V-K line equation and obtain the intercept with the
horizontal axis (Kj) and the vertical axis (Vf):
• Vf = 85
• Kj = 97.14 veh/km
Now, we can compute the forming shock wave speed:
0 − 1200
𝑉𝑤1 = = −15 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
97.14 − 17.14
In 15 minutes, the length of the queue will be (15 km/h * 0.25 h = 3.75 km)
When the traffic flow is restored, a recovery shock wave will start at the front of the queue, while
at the back of the queue, the forming shock wave of speed 15 km/h will continue. We can compute
the speed of the recovery shock wave as follows:
𝑞2 − 𝑞1
𝑉𝑤2 =
𝑘2 − 𝑘1
q1 = 0 q2 = 3600/2.1 = 1714.29 veh/h
k1 = Kj = 97.14 veh/km k2 = 28.57
1714.29 − 0
𝑉𝑤2 = = −25 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
28.57 − 97.14
1) Rate of queue dissipation = 25 – 15 = 10 km/h
Time needed to dissipate the queue = 3.75 (km) / 10 (km/h) = 0.375 h = 22.5 minutes
Hence, the queue will be fully dissipated at 10:07:30 AM
2) The distance upstream that will be impacted by the collision can be calculated from the shock
wave diagram:
Time from collision to full dissipation = 15 + 22.5 = 37.5 minutes
Distance = 37.5 / 60 (h) * 15 (km/h) = 9.375 km
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Time (min)
0 10 20 30 40
0 L = 3.75 km
impacted = 9.375 km
-2
Distance upstream
Distance (km)
-4
-6
-8
-10
Rear shock wave Front shock wave
Question 3
The traffic flow demand for a four-lane rural highway (two lanes per direction) is given below.
The relationship between flow and density for this road follows GreenShiled’s model (the free-
flow speed = 90 km/h and the jam density = 90 veh/km/lane). One lane of the two lanes of the EB
direction was closed at 7:00 AM for maintenance. The lane was reopened at 9:00 AM and the
traffic was released at capacity conditions. The traffic demand from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM is
shown in the table below.
1) Determine the maximum length of the queue upstream of the bottleneck.
2) At what time the queue will be fully dissipated?
3) Plot the shockwave diagram showing all critical values.
4) Determine the furthest distance upstream of the bottleneck that will be impacted by the
lane closure.
Time Demand
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM 3600
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM 4000
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM 3000
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM 1500
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM 1500
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Solution
Lane capacity = Vf * Kj / 4 = 90 * 90 / 4 = 2025 veh/h/lane
At 7:00 Am
The traffic conditions change from:
• State 1 (stable): vehicles arriving at a rate of 3600 vph (1800 veh/h/lane)
• State 2 (congested): Vehicles leaving at the bottleneck capacity (q = 2025 vph). This
means that each lane at the bottleneck can carry a flow of 1012.5 veh/h/lane)
Get the corresponding densities of the two states
State 1 1800 = 90 k1 – (k1)2
k1 = 30 or k1 = 60 Use k1 = 30 (stable flow)
State 2 1012.5 = 90 k2 – (k2)2
K2 = 13.18 or k2 = 76.82 Use k2 = 76.82 (congested flow)
Get the shock wave speed
𝑞2 − 𝑞1 1800 − 1012.5
𝑉𝑤 = = = −16.82 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
𝑘2 − 𝑘1 30 − 76.82
Length of the queue that is formed between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM
L = 16.82 km
At 8:00 Am
The demand upstream changes, which means that the speed of the forming shock wave will
change.
• The conditions in the congested area remain as they were (q = 1012.5 veh/h/lane and k =
76.82 veh/km/lane)
• The new arrival conditions (q = 4000 veh/h = 2000 veh/h/lane)
Get the corresponding density of the new arrival conditions
New arrival state 2000 = 90 k1 – (k1)2
k1 = 40 or k1 = 50 Use k1 = 40 (stable flow)
Get the new shock wave speed
𝑞2 − 𝑞1 2000 − 1012.5
𝑉𝑤 = = = −26.82 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
𝑘2 − 𝑘1 40 − 76.82
Length of the queue at the end of the second hour
L = 16.82 + 26.82 = 43.64 km
At 9:00 Am
At 9:00 AM, two events happen simultaneously.
• First, the closed lane is reopened to traffic
• Second, the demand upstream dropped to 3000 vph (1500 veh/h/lane)
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Correspondingly, we will have two shock waves acting on the queue
• In the front of the queue, traffic changes from the congested state to the release conditions
(capacity conditions)
• In the back, the speed of the forming shock wave will change (as the demand has changed)
Front shock wave:
State 1 (queue conditions) q = 1012.5 veh/h/lane, k = 76.82 veh/km/lane
State 2 (release) q = 2025 veh/h/lane, k = km = kj/2 = 45 veh/km/lane
𝑞2 − 𝑞1 2025 − 1012.5
𝑉𝑤−𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡 = = = −31.82 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
𝑘2 − 𝑘1 45 − 76.82
Rear shock wave:
State 1 (queue conditions) q = 1012.5 veh/h/lane, k = 76.82 veh/km/lane
State 2 (New arrivals) q = 1500 veh/h/lane, k = 22.09 or 67.91 (use k = 22.09 (stable
conditions)
𝑞2 − 𝑞1 1500 − 1012.5
𝑉𝑤−𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑟 = = = −8.91 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
𝑘2 − 𝑘1 22.09 − 76.82
Length of the queue at the end of the third hour
Rate of queue dissipation within the third hour = 31.82 – 8.91 = 22.91 km/h
L = 43.64 – 22.91 = 20.73 km
At 10:00 Am
The front recovery shock wave will continue at a speed of -31.82 km/h
However, the speed of the rear forming shock wave will change as the demand changes to 1500
veh/h (750 veh/h/lane)
Rear shock wave:
State 1 (queue conditions) q = 1012.5 veh/h/lane, k = 76.82 veh/km/lane
State 2 (New arrivals) q = 750 veh/h/lane, k = 9.29 or 80.71 (use k = 9.29 (stable
conditions)
𝑞2 − 𝑞1 750 − 1012.5
𝑉𝑤−𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑟 = = = 3.89 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
𝑘2 − 𝑘1 9.29 − 76.82
Length of the queue at the end of the third hour
Rate of queue dissipation in the third hour = 31.82 – (-3.89) = 35.71 km/h
The queue will be fully dissipated within this hour
Time for queue dissipation = 20.73 (km) / 35.71 (km/h) * 60 = 34.83 minutes
Hence the queue will be fully dissipated at 10:34:50, and the corresponding maximum length of
the queue is 43.64 km.
The furthest distance upstream of the bottleneck that will be impacted by the lane closure can be
obtained from the shockwave diagram: D = 16.82 + 26.82 + 8.91 = 52.55 Km upstream of the
bottleneck).
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0
Furthest impacted point (52.55 km upstream of
-10
Max L = 43. 64 Km
-20
the bottleneck)
Distance (Km)
-30
-40
-50
-60
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
time (hour)
Front of the platoon Rear of the platoon
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