Author : Joonhyo Kim
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781109446135
Total Pages : 223 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (461 download)
Book Synopsis A Capacity Estimation Method for Two-lane, Two-way Highways Using Simulation Modeling by : Joonhyo Kim
Download or read book A Capacity Estimation Method for Two-lane, Two-way Highways Using Simulation Modeling written by Joonhyo Kim and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 223 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The 2000 HCM (Highway Capacity Manual) suggests the capacity of two-lane, two-way highways to be 3,400 pcph for both directions and 1,700 pcph for one direction. In fact, higher traffic volumes have been observed in previous studies. Also, a single capacity value cannot reflect the variety of traffic, geometric, and driver conditions that may exist on two-lane, two-way highways. In addition, observation of capacity is difficult, so a new simulation model is developed in this study. Capacity of two-lane, two-way highways is estimated using a microscopic simulation model, which is developed with MATLAB 6.5. Due to the absence of capacity data, the newly developed simulator, TWOSIM (Two-lane, two-way highway SIMulator) is compared to existing analytical tools such as TWOPAS and 2000 HCM method for verification of its performance. Using TWOSIM, the capacity (i.e., 100 percent no-passing zone, all passenger cars and commuters, level tangent section, 12' lane width, 6' shoulder width) for one direction is estimated to be 2,100 pcph at 60 and 70 mph average free flow speeds, 2,000 pcph at 50 mph average free flow speed, and 1,850 pcph at 40 mph average free flow speed. These estimated capacities are higher than the 2000 HCM's estimated capacity for one direction. The presence of passing zones was not found to increase capacity. Additional capacity values are estimated to account for the presence of a driveway, a horizontal curve, a grade, and various percentages of trucks in the traffic stream. These treatments were found to reduce capacity (5~38 percent reduction in capacity). Based on the results, recommendations are provided regarding changes in the 2000 HCM, as well as in the model calibration and algorithm improvement of TWOSIM.