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A dispersion model for traffic produced turbulence in a two-way traffic scenario

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Abstract

Low wind speed conditions are often associated with poor air quality in urban areas, especially near roadways. Predictions of pollutant concentration under such conditions, i.e. low wind-speeds and near road locations, are, however, complicated by the role of traffic produced turbulence (TPT) on pollutant mixing and dilution. Existing dispersion models consider the effect of TPT on pollutant concentrations near roadways, accounting for parameters such as vehicle intensity, vehicle speeds, etc, but do not explicitly account for the contribution of two-way traffic interaction on the pollutant dispersion parameter. The turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) resulting from a two-way traffic condition will be higher than that with a one-way traffic pattern. Here, we obtain a simple formulation for TKE under a two-way traffic pattern from the balance of production and dissipation of turbulence. Considering the vorticity generated by the two-way traffic and determining the equivalent drag coefficient, an expression for TKE due to the two-way traffic interaction was obtained for three different traffic density regimes: light, intermediate, and heavy. The model predictions are validated by comparison with published data from a field study. An improved parameterization of the TPT considering the two-way traffic interaction effect is seen to significantly improve predictions of near roadway pollutant concentrations.

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Abbreviations

CALINE4:

CAlifornia LINE source dispersion model version 4

CFD:

Computational fluid dynamics

CPBM:

Canyon plume box model

GM:

General Motors

HDV:

Heavy duty vehicle

LDV:

Light duty vehicle

OSPM:

Operational street pollution model

QUIC:

Quick urban and industrial complex dispersion model

TKE:

Turbulent kinetic energy

TPT:

Traffic produced turbulence

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, 13699, USA

    Meilu He & Suresh Dhaniyala

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  1. Meilu He
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  2. Suresh Dhaniyala
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Correspondence to Suresh Dhaniyala.

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He, M., Dhaniyala, S. A dispersion model for traffic produced turbulence in a two-way traffic scenario. Environ Fluid Mech 11, 627–640 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-011-9215-2

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