Quiet Road Pavements: Design and Measurement—State of the Art

Abstract

For motor vehicles travelling at a speed above about 45 km/h, and for heavy vehicles above about 65 km/h, the primary source of noise emission is generally associated with the tyre/pavement interface. There is therefore considerable activity in both Europe and in the US in finding ways of minimising this source of noise. This paper presents an overview of state-of-the-art pavement design solutions being trialled to ascertain effectiveness and long-term viability. Of particular note is the development of low noise concrete solutions which potentially offer a long-term wearing surface. An important aspect of the ongoing effort in pavement noise reduction is the need to have reliable methods to measure the noise emission from those surfaces, not only to compare one with the other but also to assess the ongoing performance of any pavement surface over time. Three methods are described—the SPB method, the CPX method and the OBSI method—each in their own way having advantages and disadvantages, but each method having a formal standard underpinning it.