A Bogdanov–Takens Bifurcation in Generic Continuous Second Order Traffic Flow Models

Abstract

We consider the continuous model of Kerner–Konhäuser for traffic flow given by a second order PDE for the velocity and density. Assuming conservation of cars, traveling waves solution of the PDE are reduced to a dynamical system in the plane. We describe the bifurcations set of critical points and show that there is a curve in the set of parameters consisting of Bogdanov–Takens bifurcation points. In particular there exists Hopf, homoclinic and saddle node bifurcation curves. For each Hopf point a one parameter family of limit cyles exists. Thus we prove the existence of solitons solutions in the form of one bump traveling waves.