Stability Analysis of Optimal Velocity Model for Traffic and Granular Flow under Open Boundary Condition

Abstract

We analyzed the stability of the uniform flow solution in the optimal velocity model for traffic and granular flow under the open boundary condition. It was demonstrated that, even within the linearly unstable region, there is a parameter region where the uniform solution is stable against a localized perturbation. We also found an oscillatory solution in the linearly unstable region and its period is not commensurate with the periodicity of the car index space. The oscillatory solution has some features in common with the synchronized flow observed in real traffic.