A node-based modeling approach for the continuous dynamic network loading problem

In this paper, an analytical dynamic node-based model is proposed both to represent flows on a highway traffic network and to be utilized as an integral part of a dynamic network loading (DNL) process by solving a continuous DNL problem. The proposed model formulation has an integrate base structured with a mesoscopic link load-computing component that explicitly takes into account the acceleration behavior of discrete vehicle packets and an algorithm written with a set of nodal rules considering the constraints of link dynamics, flow conservation, flow propagation, and boundary conditions. The solution to the model formulation is obtained by simulation, where the coded algorithm of the proposed solution method is run after designing a discrete version of the problem. The performance of the proposed model, as a DNL model, is tested on a sample highway network following its validation study that is obtained on a sample highway node. It is seen that the proposed model provides consistent approximations to link flow dynamics. The new dynamic node model proposed in this paper is unique in that it encapsulates a mesoscopic approach in node-based flow dynamics modeling.