Evaluation of Noise Performance of Multi-Lane Highways in the State of Qatar

Okan Şirin ,Ohiduzzaman ,Emad Kassem

doi:10.1088/1757-899x/517/1/012010

Okan Şirin , Ohiduzzaman + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/517/1/012010

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Abstract

In recent years, a growing number of people are complaining to transportation authorities for the traffic noise as a result of increased traffic volume on the highways. Therefore, transportation authorities are actively pursuing ways to reduce the traffic noise. In recent years, quieter pavement has become one of the cost-effective ways of sustainable highway noise reduction. However, for design and construction of quieter pavements, proper and accurate noise measurement is of paramount importance for evaluating the noise level of existing pavement as well as evaluating noise level of newly constructed pavements. In this study, the variation of noise level among different lanes of existing multi-lane highways in the State of Qatar was examined. Tire-pavement noise was measured by using onboard sound intensity (OBSI) technique. OBSI test results showed that highest noise level was observed at outer lane of multilane highways. This is probably due to the pavement distress caused by the heavy vehicle travelling at the outer lane of multi-lane highways.

Highlights

Noise pollution due to moving traffic has been one of the important environmental concern for the people living close to highway vicinity
onboard sound intensity (OBSI) test results showed that highest noise level was observed at outer lane of multilane highways
Tire-pavement noise generated due to interaction between rolling tire and pavement surface can be reduced by proper design of pavement surfaces

Summary

Introduction

Noise pollution due to moving traffic has been one of the important environmental concern for the people living close to highway vicinity. Transport agencies are actively finding ways to minimize the noise from the road traffic. Reducing tire-pavement noise at source could be an important option in order to balance the benefits of well-connected highway network against the adverse impact of the residents exposed to highway traffic. A number of ways to reduce the tire-pavement noise was adopted by various transportation authorities. Of all the noise reducing ways, three techniques are generally used which included producing quieter tire, constructing quieter pavement and providing a barrier wall between source and receiver [2]. Worldwide transportation authorities have been providing great effort to identifying ways of noise reduction by altering/optimizing the road surfaces properties.

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