Merging Locations Research Articles

Empirical Studies on Merging Characteristics in Temporary Highway Work Zones with Different Traffic States and Layouts

Vehicles conduct mandatory lane changes to merge into the open lanes in temporary highway work zones, and the merging characteristics have been widely studied over the past decades. Unlike research on other traffic facilities, the data and scenarios of highway work zones are often lacking and monotonous. This study presented a vehicle trajectory dataset in highway work zones. The dataset contains ten work zone sites and three different layouts. After transforming raw videos into high-resolution trajectories, we selected eight areas and divided them into three scenarios to investigate the merging characteristics in highway work zones with different traffic states and layouts. In work zones with varying traffic conditions, we found opposite merging locations and lane speed distribution trends. In work zones with varying layouts, we found different merging location distributions, lane speed distributions, and impacts on the following vehicle’s speed. The relationship between the gap and merge speed was consistent with previous studies.

Abundance of submarine volcanism in arcs

Explosive submarine arc volcanoes can cause tsunamis, affect climate, and pose hazards to airplanes and ships. Although 70 % of the Earth is submarine, only 15 % of Holocene arc volcanoes in the Smithsonian Global Volcanism database are submarine. Merging locations of active submarine hydrothermal vents in arcs and the above database, we found 71 unlisted submarine arc volcanoes. Using Baker [2017, doi: 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2017.02.006], only 44 % of hydrothermal vents in arcs are known. Only 77 of the vent fields are on volcanoes in the Smithsonian database. Assuming that unknown submarine arc volcanoes are present in the same proportions as unknown vents, there are ~160 as-yet undiscovered Holocene age submarine arc volcanoes. Using geophysical data, we located 291 unsurveyed seamounts <30 km from arc axes, the distance within which active vents occur. We estimate 119±16 have active vents. Because more unknown seamounts exist, this means that >32 % of Holocene arc volcanoes are submarine.

A Stackelberg game-based on-ramp merging controller for connected automated vehicles in mixed traffic flow

ABSTRACT This paper proposes a game theory-based on-ramp merging controller for connected automated vehicles (CAVs) in mixed traffic flow. First, a two-layer decision-making framework based on the Stackelberg game is designed to consider the fuel consumption and safety payoffs of mixed traffic flow under different driving behaviors. The upper layer of the framework determines the optimal merging decision (i.e. merging time and location) for on-ramp vehicles (RVs) based on the Stackelberg game. The lower layer optimizes the merging trajectory of CAVs to reduce energy consumption and safety risks during the ramp-merging process. Then, a driving behavior estimation algorithm is developed to describe the differences in mainline vehicles (MLVs) response to the merging behavior of RVs. Finally, the simulation experiments are adopted to verify the effectiveness and stability of the proposed framework. The results indicated that, the proposed framework promotes environmental protection, operational efficiency, and traffic flow stability in different traffic scenarios.

An experimental study of the flow structure in arrays of cold bidirectional swirling jets

Jets arrays have become a promising technology for industrial applications, including heat transfer and combustion processes. This paper presents the first experimental results of arrays of bidirectional swirling jets, including their flow structures and specific turbulent interactions. Particle image velocimetry of non-reacting linear arrays showed the formation of recirculation zones within each jet of the array. These regions are the most stable, with fluctuations less than 0.002 of the bulk inlet velocity Vin. In addition, jets merging locations also show a significant decrease in velocity fluctuations, with values V′/Vin < 0.005, which is most clearly seen at a smaller pitch distance. However, the highest turbulent fluctuations occur in shear layers, reaching values of V'/Vin ≈ 0.02 for linear arrays and V'/Vin ≈ 0.03 for planar configurations. The flow structure of planar arrays is more complex, leading to the formation of secondary vortex structures at locations of jet interaction. This results in a significant decrease in the flow swirl number, from an initial value of Sin = 2.1 in the vortex chamber, to S1 = 0.36–0.49 at z/dout2 = 1 and S2 = 0.19–0.27 at z/dout2 = 2 beyond the outlet nozzle. Strong cross-sectional motions are observed in planar arrangements, leading to the development of additional regions of negative axial velocity between the outlet nozzles. The boundaries of these regions have nearly zero axial velocity values and can provide reliable ignition and flame stabilization in the case of reactive bidirectional jets. Therefore, the flow structure in planar arrays forms a large stabilization zone, and the obtained results can be used to develop a new multipoint combustion technique.

Evaluation of Driver Comprehension and Compliance of Red-Colored Pavement Markings for Transit Lanes in Portland, Oregon

Many U.S. agencies have experimented with red-colored pavement markings in transit lanes to enhance the message that they are restricted to transit vehicles. This study evaluated nontransit drivers’ comprehension of and compliance with red-colored lane markings in transit priority lanes intended to communicate lane restrictions and appropriate turning and merging locations. Two complementary research methods were used: 1) an online survey of drivers’ comprehension of red-colored pavement markings, and 2) evaluation of video collected at locations pre and post installation of red-colored pavement markings. In the survey, most drivers recognized the red pavement color as a restriction on use, but most did not associate it specifically with transit, or understand the intended meaning of the broken red bar patterns designed to designate a merge area. However, we observed relatively high compliance rates with the transit lane restrictions, and the red pavement coloring was generally associated with improved compliance. Of the 22,803 vehicles observed at these locations, 206 were observed driving in the transit lanes, accounting for a violation rate of 0.9%. For the locations with pre and post data, driving-in-transit-lane violations were either reduced or there was no significant change. For locations with shared turn and transit lanes, between 62% and 76% of drivers merged as intended, and we observed an increase in appropriate merging behavior with the addition of red pavement color.

Experimental and numerical analysis of the aerodynamics and vortex interactions on multi-swept delta wings

The flow field around a generic multi-swept delta wing configuration is investigated under transonic flow conditions, both experimentally and numerically. A special focus is on the analysis of vortex/vortex and vortex/shock interactions at moderate angles of attack. In the present study, the Mach number is varied between textrm{Ma} = {0.50} and textrm{Ma} = {1.41} and the angle of attack is varied between alpha = 8^circ and alpha = 28^circ. Numerical results are validated using experimental surface pressure data from pressure taps, as well as forces and moments based on strain gauge measurements. For selected cases, velocity field data from particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements are available as well. Over a broad range of angle of attack and Mach number, strong vortex/vortex interactions, including vortex braiding and vortex merging, occur. The location of vortex merging is moving downstream with increasing angle of attack and increasing Mach number. Additionally, at textrm{Ma} = {0.85}, vortex/shock interaction occurs above the wing. For moderate angles of attack, shock-induced vortex breakdown is observed.

The effects of spacing to diameter ratio on mixing characteristics of circular and elliptical twin jets

Twin jets are encountered in many engineering and industrial applications, such as aircraft propulsion systems and combustors. Twin jets create a flow field that is more complex than a single jet due to its interaction with the individual jets. This paper investigates the effects of spacing to diameter ( S/ D e) ratio and orientation on the mixing properties of circular and elliptical twin jets at four different S/ D e ratios of 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, and 2.0, respectively. The numerical simulations of twin jets are carried out with a jet Mach number of 0.8 using the Shear Stress Transport ( SST) K- ω turbulence model. The results show that near the orifice exit, the twin jets are issuing into ambient conditions separately and resemble a free jet, leading to a potential core length independent of S/ D e. The merging and combined point locations change linearly from the exit with an increasing S/ D e ratio. The decay rate is higher for Twin Ellipse Minor than those in Twin Circle and Twin Ellipse Major, verified by a shorter converging region. In addition, near the jet exit, the spread rate is higher for Twin Ellipse Minor, which is consistent with the closer merging point location. The jet mixing is superior for twin minor elliptical configuration compared to twin circle and twin major elliptical jets at all S/ D e ratios.

Rule-Based On-Off Traffic Control Strategy for CAVs on Motorway Networks: Assessing Cooperation Level and Driving Homogeneity

Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) attract much attention due to their unique behavioral characteristics and the promise to transform road transport systems as we know them today. However, the behavior of such vehicles on the road is not homogeneous since each manufacturer offers different implementations. Cooperation is essential to homogenize the traffic flow of CAVs and prevent delays on congested networks with high demand. This work proposes a rule-based decentralized on-off cooperation strategy at merging locations on freeway networks using CAVs as mobile actuators. The proposed strategy handles bilateral conflicts at on-ramps between vehicles with conflicting trajectories, taking actions at the vehicle level in a lateral or longitudinal direction, to minimize the disturbance for the following vehicles. Furthermore, heterogeneity among such vehicles is assessed through different parameter distributions among CAVs to demonstrate the importance of ensuring homogeneous dynamics in the vehicle operation design. Microscopic simulation is used to demonstrate the robustness of the proposed strategy and the value of homogeneous dynamics. The results show that the average network delay time decreased by up to 46%. Homogeneous driving behavior amplifies the benefit of the cooperative strategy significantly.

Safety Analysis of Merging Vehicles Based on the Speed Difference between on-Ramp and Following Mainstream Vehicles Using NGSIM Data

Highway merging points are critical elements due to the interactions between merging vehicles and following vehicles on the outermost lane of the highway stream. Such interactions could have significant implications for safety and capacity at ramp locations. The aim of this study was to investigate the spacing adjustment behavior by the interacting drivers at merging locations. In this regard, we relied on the NGSIM trajectory dataset to investigate the impacts of the speed difference between the following and merging vehicles on a space headway, considering different geometric designs and vehicle classes. Nonlinear regression models were estimated to analyze the interactions. The results showed a significant and exponential tendency for headway reduction, particularly when the difference in speed was higher than 30 km/h. In addition, the findings revealed that the highway with an auxiliary lane performed better in terms of headway reduction. Furthermore, the space headway reduction trend was higher when the following vehicle was a truck rather than a car. Policymakers and practitioners aiming to improve road safety at merging locations could use this study’s findings. The resulting parameters can also be utilized in microsimulation models, e.g., for headway adjustment behavior in car-following models.

Mathematical Correlation Study of Nanofluid Flow Merging Points in Entrance Regions

Here, hydrodynamic features of laminar forced nanofluid flow between two parallel plates are numerically investigated, and the results are mathematically discussed. The conventional understanding of developing flow in the entrance region of internal flows is based on the idea that boundary layers start forming at the inlet and merge at some point just before the fully developed section. However, because of the consideration of mass and flow conservation, the entire conception is required to be detailed with appropriate criteria according to the numerical simulations. Hence, nanofluid flow between two parallel plates is solved by ANSYS Fluent 19.3 for laminar forced in an isothermal condition. Two major criteria are studied to find the location of the boundary layer merging points: vorticity and velocity gradient in a direction perpendicular to the flow. The former presents the influential area of wall shear stress, and the latter is the direct infusion of the boundary layer induced by the solid walls. Vorticity for an irrotational flow is obtained by calculating the curl of the velocity. It is found that the merging points for the hydrodynamic boundary layers are considered before the fully developed region. For the first time, in this study, the results of various Reynolds numbers are collected, and correlations are proposed to predict the length of the boundary layer merging location by using a regression analysis of the data.

Impact of Road Environment on Drivers’ Preference to Merging Location Selection in Freeway Work Zone Merging Areas

In view of the compulsory merging behavior and complex driving environment in freeway work zones, the factors influencing drivers’ merging behavior need to be focused on the given road environment. Realizing the need to mitigate the impact of such a challenging scenario, this study aims to explore the impact of road environment on drivers’ merging location selection in freeway work zone merging areas. The survey data for modelling were collected through questionnaires survey based on the stated preference (SP) method. The logistics regression model was utilized to extract the significant factors influencing merging location selection. The results of fitting effect analysis show that the developed logistics regression models provide a good fit for the survey data. The road conditions and speed limit strategies are the significant factors affecting the drivers’ preference to merging location selection in upstream transition area. The road conditions, traffic environment conditions, speed conditions, and speed limit strategies are the prominent influencing factors to the latter part of advance warning area. It is a comprehensive analysis to consider the influence of road environment on merging location selection from the perspective of drivers, which is expected to support the merging control strategy and avoid the occurrence of traffic crash in work zones.

Deformed Polynuclear Growth in (1+1) Dimensions

AbstractWe introduce and study a one parameter deformation of the polynuclear growth (PNG) in (1+1)-dimensions, which we call the $t$-PNG model. It is defined by requiring that, when two expanding islands merge, with probability $t$ they sprout another island on top of the merging location. At $t=0$, this becomes the standard (non-deformed) PNG model that, in the droplet geometry, can be reformulated through longest increasing subsequences of uniformly random permutations or through an algorithm known as patience sorting. In terms of the latter, the $t$-PNG model allows errors to occur in the sorting algorithm with probability $t$. We prove that the $t$-PNG model exhibits one-point Tracy–Widom Gaussian Unitary Ensemble asymptotics at large times for any fixed $t\in [0,1)$, and one-point convergence to the narrow wedge solution of the Kardar–Parisi–Zhang equation as $t$ tends to $1$. We further construct distributions for an external source that are likely to induce Baik–Ben Arous–Péché-type phase transitions. The proofs are based on solvable stochastic vertex models and their connection to the determinantal point processes arising from Schur measures on partitions.

Integration-based extraction and visualization of jet stream cores

Abstract. Jet streams are fast three-dimensional coherent air flows that interact with other atmospheric structures such as warm conveyor belts (WCBs) and the tropopause. Individually, these structures have a significant impact on the midlatitude weather evolution, and the impact of their interaction is still a subject of research in the atmospheric sciences. A first step towards a deeper understanding of the meteorological processes is to extract the geometry of jet streams, for which we develop an integration-based feature extraction algorithm. Thus, rather than characterizing jet core line purely as extremal line structure of wind magnitude, our core-line definition includes a regularization to favor jet core lines that align with the wind vector field. Based on the line geometry, proximity-based filtering can automatically detect potential interactions between WCBs and jets, and results of an automatic detection of split and merge events of jets can be visualized in relation to the tropopause. Taking ERA5 reanalysis data as input, we first extract jet stream core lines using an integration-based predictor–corrector approach that admits momentarily weak air streams. Using WCB trajectories and the tropopause geometry as context, we visualize individual cases, showing how WCBs influence the acceleration and displacement of jet streams, and how the tropopause behaves near split and merge locations of jets. Multiple geographical projections, slicing, as well as direct and indirect volume rendering further support the interactive analysis. Using our tool, we obtained a new perspective on the three-dimensional jet movement, which can stimulate follow-up research.

Lane Change Control Combined with Ramp Metering: A Strategy to Manage Delays at On-Ramp Merging Sections

Control measures at merging locations aimed at either the mainline traffic or on-ramp traffic do not lead to a fairness in the distribution of total delay across the two streams. This paper presents a control strategy of combining a lane change control with a ramp metering system at motorway merges. The control strategy presents the opportunity to control the delays incurred at the two traffic streams of the merge. An optimization problem is formulated for a multilane motorway with an on-ramp with the aim to minimize the total travel time of the system. The proposed strategy is tested using an incentive-based lane-specific traffic flow model. Results revealed a 17% reduction in the total travel time due to the proposed strategy. Moreover, it was shown that the distribution of delays over the mainline and on-ramp could be controlled via the proposed strategy. The performance of the combined control was also compared to the individual control measures. It was observed that the individual control measures (lane change only and ramp metering only) lead to high delays on either the mainline or on-ramp compared to the combined control, where the balance between the delay for the drivers on the mainline and on-ramp could be regulated. The combined lane change and ramp metering control presents opportunities for the road authorities to manage the total delay distribution across the two traffic streams.

A particle image velocimetry measurement of flow over a highly confined circular cylinder at 60% blockage ratio

In this study, a Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurement is carried out to investigate the flow past a highly confined circular cylinder at a fixed blockage ratio of 60%. The Reynolds number (Re) in terms of the cylinder diameter and the mean incoming flow velocity is varied from 318 to 1431. It is observed that the characteristic frequency of the separated shear layers is amplified through a so-called frequency-filtering process. The instability of the separated shear layers causes two different vortex shedding modes including alternating and symmetric shedding modes, which are observed at Re = 927–1242. An intermittent switch between the two shedding modes is also observed. The theory of mixing layers is applied with modification to predict the characteristics of the separated shear layers, and the prediction shows a good agreement with the experimental data. It is found that the vortex roll-up and merging locations can be estimated by calculating the energy contents of individual frequency modes.

Simulating the Effect of Speed Humps on the U-Turn Traffic

Traffic simulation represents an effective tool for evaluating the suggested alternatives to enhance traffic conditions prior to their application in real sites. U-turn sections represent examples of the complicated sections that cannot be analyzed properly without applying microsimulation approach. Recently, in Iraq, speed humps were applied in prior to the merging locations and U-turn sections to enhance traffic safety. However, the characteristics of traffic at U-turn section with the presence of speed humps have got little attention in previous literatures. This paper uses VISSIM microsimulation model to emulate traffic movements at selected U-turn sites in the cases of with and without speed humps. Three median U-turn sites have been selected where two of these sites have speed humps prior to the turning locations. Real traffic data have been obtained from these sites using video recordings to estimate specific parameters. The developed simulation models were successfully calibrated and validated with the real data. The models have been used in testing different scenarios including the effect of having different locations/ types of speed humps and finding the capacity of U-turn sections. The results showed that closer the speeds hump to the turning location is lower the time spent for merging. The time spent values are increased with the increasing of traffic speeds at humps. Higher capacity value is obtained for the site with an auxiliary lane and speeds hump compared with the other sites.

Mucus transport and distribution by steady expiration in an idealized airway geometry

Mucus clearance from the airways is vital to reduce the risk of infection and to improve pulmonary function. The removal of mucus is propelled either by a rhythmic ciliary motion or shear-induced by turbulent expiratory airflow. However, in chronic airway diseases, the mucociliary motion is impaired due to mucus hypersecretion and altered biophysical properties. As a result, the ciliary motion is insufficient to remove mucus from the airways and expiratory airflow plays the more dominant role. In this work, the role of expiratory airflow in pathologic mucus clearance was investigated in a three-dimensional idealized bifurcating lung geometry. The two-phase air-mucus annular flow was investigated using a homogeneous flow approach and the complex interface (free-surface) was tracked by employing the volume-of-fluid (VOF) method. Flow turbulence was modeled using the k − ω shear stress transport (SST) model to examine the role of mucus viscosity, airflow rate, gravity, and airway branching on mucus distribution. It was observed that a gravity dominated eccentric core-annular flow developed in the daughter branches. The eccentricity varied with the angle of inclination, curvature, airflow rate, and mucus viscosity, which affected the merging location of airflow from the daughter branches. A mucus secondary flow developed due to the curvature in the airways and caused a local redistribution of mucus reducing the eccentricity. In addition, it was also observed that the thickness of the mucus layer was affected by the secondary airflow in the parent branch. These results emphasize the importance of accurate modeling of mucus-lined airways and indicate that an effective clearance therapy can be devised by analyzing the distribution of mucus in the airway tree.

Evaluation of Ramp Metering Impacts on Travel Time Reliability and Traffic Operations through Simulation

Ramp metering has been found to improve traffic conditions on the freeway mainline by breaking the platoons of ramp vehicles minimizing turbulence at the merge locations. The majority of the ramp metering evaluation studies have examined traffic performance under specific demand conditions, whereas travel time reliability and variability aspects have not been adequately addressed. This paper focuses on evaluating two well-known ramp metering algorithms in terms of travel time reliability as well as other performance measures such as queue lengths, throughput, and congestion duration, looking at a wide range of traffic demands throughout a calendar year. The evaluation was done through simulating an 8-mile corridor in Kansas City, KS. The results showed localized improvements due to ramp metering at the northern section of the facility, in terms of travel time reliability, throughput, and congestion duration. It was also shown that ramp metering may cause a new (possibly “hidden”) bottleneck to occur downstream, thus diluting its overall benefits when looking at an entire freeway facility. It is further noted that although ALINEA performed better than HERO on the mainline, traffic operations on the on-ramps significantly deteriorated using isolated control.

Large eddy simulation of transient upstream/downstream vortex interactions

Experimentally validated large eddy simulations were performed on two NACA0012 vanes at various lateral offsets to observe the transient effects of the near field interactions between two streamwise vortices. The vanes were separated in the streamwise direction, allowing the upstream vortex to impact on the downstream geometry. These vanes were evaluated at an angle of incidence of $8^{\circ }$ and a Reynolds number of 70 000, with rear vane angle reversed to create a co-rotating or counter-rotating vortex pair. The downstream vortex merged with the upstream in the co-rotating condition, driven by the suppression of one of the tip vortices of the downstream vane. At close proximity to the pressure side, the vane elongated the upstream vortex, resulting in it being the weakened and merging into the downstream vortex. This produced a transient production of bifurcated vortices in the wake region. The downstream vortex of the co-rotating pair experienced faster meandering growth, with position oscillations equalising between the vortices. The position oscillation was determined to be responsible for statistical variance in the merging location, with variation in vortex separation causing the vortices at a single plane to merge and separate in a time-dependent manner. In the counter-rotating condition position oscillations were found to be larger, with higher growth, but less uniform periodicity. It was found that the circulation transfer between the vortices was linked to the magnitude of their separation, with high separation fluctuations weakening the upstream vortex and strengthening the downstream vortex. In the case of upstream vortex impingement on the downstream vane, the upstream vortex was found to bifurcate, with a four vortex system being formed by interactions with the shear layer. This eventually resulted in a single dominant vortex, which did not magnify its oscillation amplitudes as it travelled downstream due to the destruction of the interacting vortices.

Utilizing UAV video data for in-depth analysis of drivers’ crash risk at interchange merging areas

The interchange merging area suffers a high crash risk in the freeway system, which is greatly related to the intense mandatory merging maneuvers. Ignoring such correlation may result in limited and biased conclusions and inefficient countermeasures. Recently, the availability of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) provides us an opportunity to collect individual vehicle’s data to conduct traffic analysis at the microscopic level. Hence, this paper contributes to the literature by proposing a new framework to analyze crash risk at freeway interchange merging areas considering drivers’ merging behavior. The analysis framework is conducted based on individual vehicle data from UAV videos. A multilevel random parameters logistic regression model is proposed to investigate each driver’s merging behavior in the acceleration lane. The model could identify the impact of different factors related to traffic and drivers on the merging behavior. Then, the crash risk between the merging vehicle and surrounding vehicles is calculated by incorporating the time-to-collision (TTC) and the output of the estimated merging behavior’s model. The results suggest that the proposed method provides more valuable insights about the crash risk at interchange merging areas by simultaneously considering the merging behavior and the safety measure. It is concluded that the merging speed, driving ability (e.g., lane change confidence, lane-keeping instability), and the merging location can affect the crash risk. These results can help traffic engineers propose efficient countermeasures to enhance the safety of the interchange merging area. The results also have implications to the design of merging areas and the advent of connected vehicles’ technology.