Cellular automaton model for mixed traffic flow considering lane change duration

This study proposes a mixed traffic flow model considering lane change duration, based on the cellular automaton model. The model focuses on the characteristics of lane change behavior and its impact on traffic flow in the coexistence scenario of motorcycles and cars. The primary objectives are to characterize lane change behaviour differences between vehicle types and to quantify the impact of lane change duration and motorcycle penetration rate on traffic flow characteristics. Firstly, the lane change duration was defined, and differences between motorcycles and cars in the lane-changing process were analyzed through behavioral comparisons. Secondly, based on the classical NaSch model, the lane change duration was introduced. An improved simulation model was developed through refined cellular partitioning and updating rules. Finally, MATLAB simulations examined the effects of varying lane change durations and motorcycle penetration rates across traffic densities. The results of the simulation indicate that the fundamental diagram produced by the model is in accordance with the characteristics of the three-phase traffic flow theory. It is evident that an increase in lane change duration, at a constant density, has a substantial impact on traffic efficiency, with this effect being more pronounced at medium density. Furthermore, higher motorcycle penetration rates detrimentally affect traffic efficiency at low density but improve it at high density. This study enhances the realism and rationality of cellular automaton traffic flow simulation by modeling the entire process of lane change behaviour.