Dedan Kimathi University of Technology,

School of Engineering

Ochieng Churchill

Department of Civil Engineering

2020/2021 Academic Year

Traffic Engineering, I

ECE 3211 CAT 1

QUESTION ONE (1)

a) For a certain class of road segments, the speed-concentration formula is given by:

Where Kfmax denotes the maximum un-congested concentration, i.e. the maximum

Concentration at which the free-flow space-mean speed obtains.

(i) Sketch the graph of space-mean speed versus concentration.

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

(ii) Derive the formula for capacity flow and speed at capacity for such road
segments.

Kj
If Kmax¿ K <
2
Flow=speed*concentration q=Vf { ( Kj−k ) ( Kj−Kfmax ) }∗K
Vf ∗K∗Kj Vf ∗K 2
q= {
Kj−Kfmax
−}{
Kj−Kfmax }
For qmax
dq
=0
dk
Vf ∗Kj 2∗Vf ∗K
0= −
Kj−Kopt Kj−Kopt
 2 Vf Vf ∗Kj
=
Kj−Kfmax Kj−Kopt
2 K=Kj
K= Kj where K gives qmax
Now
Vf ∗K j 2
Vf ∗K j 2
qmax= −
2∗( Kj−Kfmax ) 4∗( Kj−Kfmax )
1
qmax=
Vf ∗K j 2
4 {
Kj−Kfmax }
Using velocity
Vf ∗K∗Kj Vf ∗Kj 2
q= {
Kj−Kmax
− }{
Kj−Kfmax }
q
Replace K =
Vs
Vf ∗K∗Kj Vf ∗q2
q= { Kj−Kfmax
− }{
Kj−Kfmax }
V 2s∗Kj−Kopt
Multiplying through by
qVf
2
V s∗Kj−Kfmax
=Vs∗Kj−q
Vf
Rearrange
V 2s∗Kj− Kfmax
q=Vs∗Kj−
Vf
dq Vs∗Kj−Kfmax
=Kj−2
dVs Vf
Vs∗Kj−Kfmax
Kj=2
Vf
VfKj
Vsopt =
2 ( K −Kfmax )
This

V f∗K j f ∗K j 2∗K j−K fmax

q max=
2 ( K −K fmax )∗K j
− V
{2 ( K−K fmax ) } Vf

1
q max=
f∗K j2
{
4 V
K −K fmax }
(iii) Sketch the fundamental diagram for both cases emanating from (ii)

Y-Values
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Kj
For Kfmax=≯
2

Y-Values
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Kj
Assuming that Kfmax< , sketch the graph of space-mean speed versus flow.
2
Note: compare the value of 𝑣̅(𝑜𝑝𝑡)with the values of 𝑣̅𝑠opt for which q = qfmax, the
maximum flow at which the free-flow space-mean speed obtains i.e.
qfmax=v ̅ f . Kfmax
 space mean speed against flow
45
40
35
30
Vs(kmph)

25
20
15
10
5
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
q(vph)

QUESTION TWO (2)

Inspection of a freeway data set reveals a free flow speed of 60 Km/hr, a jam density of

180 vehicles per Km per lane, and an observed maximum flow of 2,000 vehicles per hour.

Determine the linear equation for velocity for these conditions, and determine the speed

and density at maximum flow conditions. How do the theoretical and observed

conditions compare?

v s=v f – ( vk fj )∗k ( mph )

60
v s=60 – ( k)=60 – 0.333 k
180
q=v s∗k
q=60 k −0.333 k 2
dq
=60 – 2∗0.333∗k
dk
60=0.666 k
 kj
k =90. 0=
2
60 Vf
Vm=60− =30 mph=
180∗90 2
q=v s∗k
q=30∗90=2700 vph>2000 vph
Theoretical value does not match with observed valuebecause of other factorson the actual road link .

QUESTION THREE (3)

A study of freeway flow at a particular site has resulted in a calibrated speed-density
relationship, as follows:
Us= 57.5(1-0.008k)
From this relationship:
a) Find the free-flow speed and jam density

Vs=57.5 – 0.46 k . ¿

V s=V f − ( Vk fj ) k
V f =57.5 MPH
Vf
=0.46
kj
k j=125 vpm
b) Derive the equations describing flow versus speed and flow versus density.

q=V s k
q=57.5 k −0.46 k 2(q∈terms of k )
Now derive w . r .t ¿ k ;
0.46 k =57.5−V s

57.5−V s Vs
k=
0.46
=125−
0.46 ( )
 Vs
( ( ))
q=V s 125−
0.46

V s2
q=125 V s− ( q ∈terms of V s )
0.46
c) Determine the capacity of the site mathematically
The maximum flow :
dq /dk=57.5 – 0.46∗2∗k =0
57.5=0.46∗2∗k
57.5
k= =62.5 veh/mile=k m
0.46 ( 2 )
density
¿ at maximum flow
concentration
q=57.5 k −0.46 k 2
q=57.5∗(62.5) – 0.46∗( 62.5) 2
q=3593.75 – 1796.875
q max=1796.875 veh /hour
speed at maxium flow=V m=57.5 – 0.46∗62.5=28.75 mph