In this paper, the characteristics of synchronized traffic in mixed traffic flow are investigated based on the braking light model. By introducing the energy dissipation and the distribution of slowdown vehicles, the effects of the maximum velocity, the mixing ratio, and the length of vehicles on the synchronized flow are discussed. It is found that the maximum velocity plays a great role in the synchronized flow in mixed traffic. The energy dissipation and the distribution of slowdown vehicles in the synchronized flow region are greatly different from those in free flow and a traffic jamming region. When all of vehicles have the same maximum velocity with V max > 15, the mixed traffic significantly displays synchronized flow, which has been demonstrated by the relation between flow rate and occupancy and estimation of the cross-correlation function. Moreover, the energy dissipation in the synchronized flow region does not increase with occupancy. The distribution of slowdown vehicles shows a changeless platform in the synchronized flow region. This is an interesting phenomenon. It helps to deeply understand the synchronized flow and greatly reduce the energy dissipation of traffic flow.
A new two-dimensional lattice hydrodynamic model considering the turning capability of cars is proposed. Based on this model, the stability condition for this new model is obtained by using linear stability analysis. Near the critical point, the modified KdV equation is deduced by using the nonlinear theory. The results of numerical simulation indicate that the critical point a c increases with the increase of the fraction p of northbound cars which continue to move along the positive y direction for c = 0.3, but decreases with the increase of p for c = 0.7. The results also indicate that the cars moving along only one direction (eastbound or northbound) are most stable.
