Abstract
The noise generated at the interface between the wheels of vehicles and the road surface is well recognized in the literature worldwide. Many publications describe the phenomenon of reducing this kind of impact by silent road surfaces. A specific type of this noise is the sound generated by vehicles passing over the expansion joints of bridge structures. Due to the impulsive nature of this sound, it is very onerous for people living in the close vicinity of bridge structures. The passage of vehicles over expansion joints causes the formation of vibrations that are transmitted to the structural elements of bridge structures, which may cause the formation of the material sounds (especially arduous in the case of bridges with steel elements). An attempt to reduce this impact was made by making a prototype acoustic cover of the expansion joint on the selected bridge. The paper presents the results of research on the “in situ” acoustic effectiveness of this cover. Additionally, the noise was modelled in the object surroundings before and after the cover’s application. The acoustic efficiency of the cover in the whole measured frequency range was 5.3 dBA. In the narrower frequency bands (1/3 octave bands), larger sound level reductions were observed. The maximum sound levels measured under the tested dilatation were less than 10.0 dBA lower than the maximum sound levels measured under the reference dilatation.
Highlights
A bridge expansion joint is a structural component designed to provide smooth passage over a gap between adjacent sides of a bridge deck
This study shows that from the point of view of migration of wild animals, passages without expansion joints are the most beneficial
1/3 octave are shown observed sound levels in the middle frequencies of 1/3ofoctave bandsbands are shown below observed range) as well as sound levels in the middle frequencies of 1/3 octave bands are shown below in
Summary
A bridge expansion joint is a structural component designed to provide smooth passage over a gap between adjacent sides of a bridge deck. The phenomenon of the acoustic impact generated by vehicles passing over expansion joints applies to railway bridges, where there are the much higher speeds of trains in comparison to road facilities This has been examined and described in papers [5,11]. A similar solution, but at the same time different in terms of construction and application possibilities, is presented in the papers [17,18] In this case, the application of the so called Helmholtz resonator was described, which on the Anzac and Georges River (Tom Ugly) bridges resulted in the reduction in the noise defined as the “booming noise” by as much as 10 dB in the frequency band up to 200 Hz. In this case, the application of the so called Helmholtz resonator was described, which on the Anzac and Georges River (Tom Ugly) bridges resulted in the reduction in the noise defined as the “booming noise” by as much as 10 dB in the frequency band up to 200 Hz Another possible solution is the so called ROBO MUTE system, designed to close the space directly under the expansion joint. Measured directly at the expansion joint by more than 15 dBA
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