Modeling and simulation of multiphase traffic flow

Abstract

This study discusses and simulates certain macroscopic traffic flow phenomena based on a microscopic traffic flow model. The phase transition, "free flow to synchronized flow", is discussed, and the simulation indicates that the phase transition leads to capacity drop. Another important feature of multiphase traffic flow- traffic hysteresis is also reproduced. This study explains why capacity drop and traffic hysteresis form from the viewpoint of driver behavior. Simulation examples of capacity drop and traffic hysteresis are provided and they demonstrate that the proposed model can represent the two classical hysteresis pattern types founded by Treiterer and Maes.