A new phase plane analysis method for analyzing the complex nonlinear traffic phenomena is presented in this paper. This method makes use of variable substitution to transform a traditional traffic flow model into a new model which is suitable for the analysis in phase plane. According to the new model, various traffic phenomena, such as the well-known shock waves, rarefaction waves, and stop-and-go waves, are analyzed in the phase plane. From the phase plane diagrams, we can see the relationship between traffic jams and system instability. So the problem of traffic flow could be converted into that of system stability. The results show that the traffic phenomena described by the new method is consistent with that described by traditional methods. Moreover, the phase plane analysis highlights the unstable traffic phenomena we are chiefly concerned about and describes the variation of density or velocity with time or sections more clearly.

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phase plane analysis method variable substitution variation of density or velocity complex nonlinear traffic phenomena wellknown shock waves rarefaction waves and stopandgo waves system methods traffic flow model

Zhongke Shi,Wenhuan Ai,Dawei Liu,.Phase Plane Analysis Method of Nonlinear Traffic Phenomena. 2015 (),.

Zhongke Shi,Wenhuan Ai,Dawei Liu,"Phase Plane Analysis Method of Nonlinear Traffic Phenomena" 2015

Zhongke Shi,Wenhuan Ai,Dawei Liu,"Phase Plane Analysis Method of Nonlinear Traffic Phenomena"