Modeling and optimal congestion control of multi-lane highway traffic with on-ramp and off-ramp under V2X environment

Abstract

For the freeway scenario empowered by V2X technology, a new multi-lane lattice model is proposed. This model is based on newly designed density feedback delayed congestion control signals, and it takes into account the driver's lane-changing characteristics as well as the influence of on-ramps and off-ramps in the multi-lane system. The linear stability condition of the new model and the density wave equation, which describes the traffic congestion evolution law near the critical point, are derived through theoretical analysis. Numerical simulations are conducted to verify the correctness of the theoretical analysis results and the rationality of the model. The results indicate that the inflow rate at the on-ramp has a negative effect on the stability of the main roadway in the multi-lane system, while the outflow rate at the off-ramp has a positive effect. Furthermore, increasing the number of lanes and enhancing the driver's lane-changing rate can improve the stability of the multi-lane system, irrespective of the operating conditions of the on-ramp and off-ramp flows. Meanwhile, the results also demonstrate that the newly designed density-delayed feedback control strategy effectively suppresses and smooths out traffic congestion in multi-lane systems.