Noise-damping characteristics of different pavement surface wearing courses

Abstract

The purpose of this research investigation was to conduct field and laboratory noise evaluation of 36 laboratory-blended and 49 field pavement cores encompassing 11 pavement types collected from Arizona and California in the USA and Sweden in Europe mainly to characterise their acoustical properties. Furthermore, a new and unique parameter referred to as damping acoustical measurement parameter (DAMP) was conceptualised and developed as part of this study to characterise noise-damping properties of the different road materials. Laboratory acoustical evaluation was performed on the samples covering nine conventional and modified asphalt and two non-asphaltic mixtures using the ultrasonic pulse velocity technique and Impedance (Z) was estimated. DAMP was established for the mixes which were inversely related to Z. Theoretically, lower Z and higher DAMP exemplified higher noise-damping capacity of the pavement. Amongst the asphaltic mixes, asphalt rubber friction course had the highest DAMP (∼20%) compared to the other mixes indicative of being the quietest pavement material, also confirmative of the field noise measurement findings. Within the non-asphaltic mixtures, poroelastic road surface showed the highest DAMP (37%), while Portland cement concrete exhibited the lowest DAMP (12%).