A Bogdanov-Takens bifurcation in generic continuous second order traffic flow models

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. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.