Suchergebnisse

(Thesis) Thesis - University of Florida. ; (Bibliography) Bibliography: leaves 186-194. ; Manuscript copy. ; Vita.

The Boltzmann-like approach to traffic flow leads to a singularity in the speed distribution function at a critical concentration. It is then shown that there exist two flow regimes which may be described as an individual flow regime and a collective flow regime. The flow versus concentration relation in the latter regime is independent of the desired speed distribution function. The existence of both metastable flow states and collective flow states for a given concentration is demonstrated for some cases. It is suggested that the stable flow pattern corresponds to the collective flow state because the latter involves the largest fluctuations.

A unified theory of vehicular trafile flow is presented in which the adjustment of a driver to his local environment is incorporated into a previously existent statistical theory, which dealt primarily with the effect of a « passing interaction » on the time evolution of a speed distribution function. The Boltzmann-like equation is set up and the general steady state solution is presented along with a discussion of various limiting cases.