AbstractsMathematics

Vlasov-Fokker-Planck type kinetic models for multilane traffic flow and large time behavior of kinetic density by entropy methods

by Ting Zhou




Institution: University of Victoria
Department:
Year: 2010
Keywords: traffic flow; mathematical models; UVic Subject Index::Sciences and Engineering::Mathematics
Record ID: 1867598
Full text PDF: http://hdl.handle.net/1828/2098


Abstract

We present a class of multi-lane traffic models of Vlasov-Fokker-Planck type incorporating non-local and time-delayed braking/acceleration, diffu¬sion and lane changing terms whose dependencies are based on empirical guidelines. By investigating the spatially homogeneous case with non-zero passing probability incorporated in the braking term. we are left with the drift diffusion equation. which leads to a multi-valued fundamental diagram. As a novelty of this thesis. we find out that the monotonicity of the quotient between the braking/acceleration and the diffusion term in average speed guarantees the single-valued fundamental diagram. We study the large time behavior of the time-dependent kinetic density by convex entropy methods based on [3]. With a positive "residual" diffusion, convergence results remain with fewer assumptions. Two simplified examples are studied to illustrate the application of entropy methods.