accordion effect
{{short description|Nonlinear process in fluid dynamics}}
File:Tunnel Pragsattel.jpg, a situation susceptible to the accordion effect.]]
In physics, the accordion effect (also known as the slinky effect, concertina effect, elastic band effect, and string instability) occurs when fluctuations in the motion of a traveling body cause disruptions in the flow of elements following it. This can happen in road traffic, foot marching, bicycle and motor racing, and, in general, to processes in a pipeline. These are examples of nonlinear processes. The accordion effect generally decreases the throughput of the system in which it occurs.
In traffic
{{main|Traffic wave}}
The accordion effect in road traffic refers to the typical decelerations and accelerations of a vehicle when the vehicle in front decelerates and accelerates. These fluctuations in speed propagate backwards and typically get bigger and bigger further down the line, resulting in reduced throughput of road traffic.{{Cite journal |last=Sugiyama |first=Yuki |last2=Fukui |first2=Minoru |last3=Kikuchi |first3=Macoto |last4=Hasebe |first4=Katsuya |last5=Nakayama |first5=Akihiro |last6=Nishinari |first6=Katsuhiro |last7=Tadaki |first7=Shin-ichi |last8=Yukawa |first8=Satoshi |date=2008-03-04 |title=Traffic jams without bottlenecks—experimental evidence for the physical mechanism of the formation of a jam |url=https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1367-2630/10/3/033001 |journal=New Journal of Physics |language=en |volume=10 |issue=3 |pages=033001 |doi=10.1088/1367-2630/10/3/033001 |issn=1367-2630}} For this reason, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration recommends that each driver should try to follow the accelerations of the vehicle in front closely, and keeping a steady gap that is neither too small or large.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-22 |title=Trafikkhendelser på vei, forsinkelser og nytte av raskere varsling |url=https://www.toi.no/publikasjoner/trafikkhendelser-pa-vei-forsinkelser-og-nytte-av-raskere-varsling |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Transportøkonomisk institutt |language=no}}{{Cite journal |last=Tennøy |first=Aud |last2=Tønnesen |first2=Anders |last3=Gundersen |first3=Frants |date=2019-04-01 |title=Effects of urban road capacity expansion – Experiences from two Norwegian cases |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S136192091830628X |journal=Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment |volume=69 |pages=90–106 |doi=10.1016/j.trd.2019.01.024 |issn=1361-9209|doi-access=free }} Too small gaps and sudden braking can lead to rear ending.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}
In motorsports
In the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix, an accordion effect after the restart under the safety car caused five of the last cars in the field to crash.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-14 |title=What really happened in Tuscan GP’s huge restart crash |url=https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/what-really-happened-in-tuscan-gps-huge-restart-crash/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=The Race |language=en}} Data analysis of the crash showed that each consecutive driver accelerated faster and faster, and also that each consecutive driver braked later and later.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpap9TUIdg8 |title=Mugello Restart Madness {{!}} Jolyon Palmer Analysis {{!}} 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix |date=2020-09-17 |last=FORMULA 1 |access-date=2024-08-06 |via=YouTube}}
See also
References
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External links
- [https://tabroot.com/accordion-effect/ Accordion Effect] - Tabroot
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