Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has many special characteristics, such as low pressure and hypoxia, complex geological conditions, fragile ecological environment, and various bad weather conditions, which exerts a negative effect on highway construction and traffic safety. It is a huge challenge to build a safe and environment-friendly highway on the Tibetan Plateau due to lacking of mature experience around the world. Therefore, this book was supported by the National Science and Technology Support Program: highway construction technology in high altitude and cold regions to research the critical indicators and technologies. This book focuses on the driving behavior and typical vehicle characteristics in the high altitude area to put forward a series of geometrical indicators and traffic safety improvement measures, based on a great number of ground tests. Moreover, the relative achievements were applied to the demonstration project and validate the feasibility of indicators and countermeasures. It is of practical and leading significance for highway construction and improving the traffic level in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Author(s): Jianbei Liu
Publisher: Springer-SSTP
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 371
City: Shanghai
Foreword
Preface
Summary
Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Introduction to Research Status Worldwide
1.2.1 Vehicle Dynamic Characteristics at High Altitude
1.2.2 Psycho-physiological Characteristics of Drivers in High Altitude Areas
1.2.3 Characteristics of Freeway Traffic Operation in High-Altitude Areas
1.2.4 Geometric Technical Indicators of Freeway Routes in High Altitude Areas
1.3 Main Research Contents
1.3.1 Research on Vehicle Performance and Driving Behavior in Low Pressure and Oxygen Deficient Environment
1.3.2 Research on Traffic Features and Speed Control of Freeways in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Region
1.3.3 Research on Main Technical Indicators of Freeway Alignment in Low Pressure and Oxygen Deficient Environment
1.3.4 Study on Technical Standards and Design Guidelines for Qinghai-Tibet Freeway
1.4 Technical Difficulties and Research Methods
1.5 Scientific and Technological Achievements and Innovation
1.6 Application of Results
1.7 Economic and Social Benefits
2 The Characteristics of Traffic Operation in High Altitude Areas
2.1 Characteristics of Traffic Accidents in Special High Altitude Environments
2.1.1 Basic Data on Traffic Accidents
2.1.2 The Indicators and Methods of Traffic Accident Analysis
2.1.3 General Distribution Characteristics of Traffic Accidents
2.1.4 Characteristics of the Relationship Between Traffic Accidents and People, Vehicles, Roads and the Environment
2.2 The Characteristics of the Traffic Flow in Special High Altitude Environment
2.2.1 Basic Data Collection
2.2.2 Traffic Volume and Composition
2.2.3 Analysis of Traffic Flow Features
2.3 Traffic Safety Service Level in High Altitude Areas
2.3.1 Determination of Road Segmentation Method
2.3.2 Analysis of Traffic Accident Influencing Factors
2.3.3 Regional Highway Accident Prediction Model
2.3.4 General Distribution Characteristics of Traffic Accidents
2.3.5 Traffic Safety Service Level of Secondary Highway
2.3.6 Preliminary Study on Freeway Traffic Safety Service Level
3 Dynamic Features of Typical Vehicles Under Low Pressure and Oxygen Deficient Environment in High Altitude Areas
3.1 Vehicle Types and Methods for Testing
3.1.1 Vehicle Types for Testing
3.1.2 Test Method
3.1.3 Test Site and Environmental Conditions
3.2 Principles of Vehicle Dynamics in Plateau Areas
3.2.1 Principles of Vehicle Driving Dynamics
3.2.2 Principle of Vehicle Driving Resistance
3.2.3 Altitude-Based Power and Resistance Discounting Principle
3.3 External Characteristics of Engine
3.3.1 Test and Calculation Process of Engine External Characteristics
3.3.2 Comparison of Engine External Characteristics at Different Altitudes
3.3.3 Analysis of Engine Torque Reduction Coefficient
3.4 Engine Braking Characteristics
3.4.1 Engine Braking Characteristic Test and Calculation Process
3.4.2 Comparison of Engine Braking Characteristics at Different Altitudes
3.4.3 Analysis of Engine Braking Torque Reduction Coefficient
4 Characteristics of Psychophysiological Change of Drivers in the Low Pressure and Oxygen Deficient Environment in High Altitude Area
4.1 Drivers’ Perception and Operation Ability in Low Oxygen Environment
4.1.1 Test Plan Design
4.1.2 Change Characteristics of Drivers’ Reaction Ability
4.1.3 Changing Characteristics of Drivers’ Heart Rate Under Complex Linear Conditions
4.1.4 Driver Heart Rate Change Model Under Complex Linear Conditions
4.2 Fatigue Characteristics of Drivers in Low Oxygen Environment
4.2.1 Test Plan Design
4.2.2 Fatigue Characteristics of Driving at Different Altitudes
4.2.3 Fatigue Model When Driving at Different Altitudes
5 Operating Speed Model of Freeway in High Altitude Areas
5.1 Representative Model
5.1.1 Representative Model of Passenger Cars
5.1.2 Representative Model of Trucks
5.2 Influence of Power and Resistance Reduction on Vehicle Operating Speed
5.3 Relationship Between Equilibrium Velocity and Equivalent Slope
5.3.1 Equivalent Slope and Slope Offset Less Than 80 km/h
5.3.2 Equivalent Slope and Slope Offset Values Greater Than 80 km/h
5.4 Operating Speed Prediction Model Considering Equivalent Slope
5.5 Validation Analysis of Operating Speed Prediction Model
6 Safety Geometric Design Techniques for Freeway in High Altitude Areas
6.1 Main Geometric Indicators and Parameters of Freeways in High Altitude Areas
6.1.1 Research on Horizontal Alignment Indicator
6.1.2 Design Indicators of Gradient of Highway
6.1.3 Definition and Standard of Continuous Long and Steep Downhills
6.1.4 Cross-section Composition and Size
6.1.5 Crown Cross Slope and Pavement Superelevation
6.1.6 Stopping Sight Distance Under Ice and Snow Conditions
6.2 Reasonable Spacing of Service Facilities
6.2.1 Main Considerations for Designing Intervals of Service Facilities
6.2.2 Classification and Functional Positioning of Service Facilities
6.2.3 Second Class Service Facility Interval of Qinghai-Tibet Highway
6.2.4 Spacing of Third Class Service Facilities on Qinghai-Tibet Highway
6.2.5 Interval of First Class Service Facilities on Qinghai-Tibet Highway
6.3 Dynamic Segmentation Technology of High Altitude Highway Design Speed
6.3.1 Design Speed Select by Function and Technical Level of Highway
6.3.2 Selecting Design Speed by Route Layout Factors Such as Altitude and Terrain Conditions
6.3.3 Design Speed Selection by Considering Climatic Conditions
6.3.4 Design Speed Selection by Considering Operating Speed of Typical Vehicles
6.3.5 Speed Segmentation Selection Considering Road Network Nodes Along the Route
6.3.6 Speed Transition Design
6.4 Optimization Method of Route Safety Design
6.4.1 Selection Principle of Alignment Indicators
6.4.2 Route Safety Optimization Design Process
6.5 Research on Technical Standards of Qinghai-Tibet Freeway
6.6 Design Technology for Dynamic Speed Control (Speed Limit) of Freeway in High Altitude Area
6.6.1 Speed Limit Mode and Its Distribution
6.6.2 Analysis of Vehicle Overspeed
6.6.3 Speed Limit Effect Evaluation of Existing Speed Limit Facilities
6.6.4 Speed Limit Decision and Arrangement Technology Under Special Environment
7 Application and Demonstration Relying on Project
7.1 Application Project Summary
7.2 Adaptability Analysis of Design Speed Variation
7.2.1 Functions, Positions and Design Conditions
7.2.2 Vehicle Operating Conditions
7.2.3 Road Network Node Conditions
7.3 Evaluation of Operating Speed Coordination
7.4 Checking of Horizontal and Vertical Geometric Indicators Based on Operating Speed
7.4.1 Checking of Horizontal Geometric Indicators
7.4.2 Checking of Vertical Geometric Indicators
7.4.3 Sight Distance Checking
7.5 Speed Limit Implementation Plan
7.5.1 Main Contents and Technical Indicators of Demonstration Project
7.5.2 Application of Speed Limit Comprehensive Decision-Making Model
7.5.3 Specific Implementation Plan
7.5.4 Arrangement of Speed Limit Signs
7.5.5 Other Speed Management Suggested Plans
