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Main Authors: Jin, Wen-Long, Martinez, Irene
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.10014
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author Jin, Wen-Long
Martinez, Irene
author_facet Jin, Wen-Long
Martinez, Irene
contents In the Lighthill-Whitham-Richards (LWR) model for single-lane traffic, vehicle trajectories follow the first-in-first-out (FIFO) principle and can be represented by a monotone three-dimensional surface of cumulative vehicle count. In contrast, the generalized bathtub model, which describes congestion dynamics in transportation networks using relative space, typically violates the FIFO principle, making its representation more challenging. Building on the characteristic distance ordering concept, we observe that trips in the generalized bathtub model can be ordered by their characteristic distances (remaining trip distance plus network travel distance). We define a new cumulative number of trips ahead of a trip with a given remaining distance at a time instant, showing it forms a monotone three-dimensional surface despite FIFO violations. Using the inverse function theorem, we derive equivalent formulations with different coordinates and dependent variables, including special cases for Vickrey's bathtub model and the basic bathtub model. We demonstrate numerical methods based on these formulations and discuss trip-based approaches for discrete demand patterns. This study enhances understanding of the generalized bathtub model's properties, facilitating its application in network traffic flow modeling, congestion pricing, and transportation planning.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_10014
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Monotone three-dimensional surface and equivalent formulations of the generalized bathtub model
Jin, Wen-Long
Martinez, Irene
Physics and Society
Analysis of PDEs
In the Lighthill-Whitham-Richards (LWR) model for single-lane traffic, vehicle trajectories follow the first-in-first-out (FIFO) principle and can be represented by a monotone three-dimensional surface of cumulative vehicle count. In contrast, the generalized bathtub model, which describes congestion dynamics in transportation networks using relative space, typically violates the FIFO principle, making its representation more challenging. Building on the characteristic distance ordering concept, we observe that trips in the generalized bathtub model can be ordered by their characteristic distances (remaining trip distance plus network travel distance). We define a new cumulative number of trips ahead of a trip with a given remaining distance at a time instant, showing it forms a monotone three-dimensional surface despite FIFO violations. Using the inverse function theorem, we derive equivalent formulations with different coordinates and dependent variables, including special cases for Vickrey's bathtub model and the basic bathtub model. We demonstrate numerical methods based on these formulations and discuss trip-based approaches for discrete demand patterns. This study enhances understanding of the generalized bathtub model's properties, facilitating its application in network traffic flow modeling, congestion pricing, and transportation planning.
title Monotone three-dimensional surface and equivalent formulations of the generalized bathtub model
topic Physics and Society
Analysis of PDEs
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.10014