Study of suppression properties on traffic waves of periodic vehicular platoons with typical platoon configurations

To investigate the suppression characteristics on traffic waves in the periodic configurations vehicular platoons, this paper analyzes the bandgap properties and frequency transmission characteristics of three typical platoon configurations: predecessor-following (PF), bidirectional (BD), and predecessor-leader-following (PLF). First, dynamic models of periodically structured platoons are developed for each configuration. Then, taking the BD periodic platoon as an example, the spacing error transfer matrix is derived by the lumped mass method, and a bandgap computation approach is formulated based on Bloch’s theorem. Building on this, the frequency transmission characteristics of periodic platoons using PF, BD, and PLF configurations are numerically solved and analyzed. Finally, numerical simulations are conducted to assess the suppression effect of platoons on traffic waves, comparing the bandgap properties and frequency transmission characteristics across different configurations. The results indicate that all periodic platoon configurations exhibit suppression capabilities on traffic waves, but their bandgap widths and transmission characteristics differ significantly. These findings provide theoretical insights and practical implications for the development of periodic platoon control theory and its application in traffic wave suppression.