General phase transition models for vehicular traffic with point constraints on the flow

Abstract

In this paper, we present a general phase transition model that describes the evolution of vehicular traffic along a one-lane road. Two different phases are taken into account, according to whether the traffic is low or heavy. The model is given by a scalar conservation law in the free-flow phase and by a system of 2 conservation laws in the congested phase. The free-flow phase is described by a one-dimensional fundamental diagram corresponding to a Newell-Daganzo type flux. The congestion phase is described by a two-dimensional fundamental diagram obtained by perturbing a general fundamental flux. In particular, we study the resulting Riemann problems in the case a local point constraint on the flow of the solutions is enforced