Title: Near Field Tire Noise Measurements of Similar Pavements of Different Ages
Abstract: This paper describes how one of the issues regarding the use of “quiet pavements” in the reduction of highway traffic noise is the maintenance of improved noise performance over long periods of time. Until this issue is adequately addressed, the use of quiet pavements as a noise abatement tool will not be considered in the same category as the more permanent abatement provided by highway barriers. Interest in using quiet pavement as an alternative to barriers is driven by several issues. These include reduced cost, greater public acceptance, and more global noise reduction produced by addressing the source of noise. One approach to investigating long-term performance is to install a segment of candidate pavement and monitor its performance for a number of years. This approach, however, inhibits the use of quieter pavements in the interim. A second approach is to measure the performance of existing quiet pavements of similar specification, but of different ages. This paper describes how the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is currently in the middle of a major freeway expansion in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Noise from existing, newly completed, and future freeways has become a very important issue. There has been a negative public reaction to abating noise by new barriers, and in some cases, existing barriers are perceived as still not providing enough noise abatement. Within the Phoenix area, freeway construction has traditionally employed Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP) with uniformly spaced, transverse tining as the finished surface. Outside of the metropolitan areas of Arizona, the interstate highway pavements consist primarily of similar Asphalt Rubber Friction Coarses (ARFC). These surfaces were known to produce lower levels of tire/pavement noise and are now being applied in the metropolitan area to the old and new PCCP surfaces. To gain some understanding of the long-term ability of the ARFC to abate tire/pavement noise, 20 sections of the ARFC pavement were measured for noise performance in May of 2002. These sections were constructed on Interstates 8 and 10 in the years ranging from 1990 to 1999 and were built to similar specifications. This paper provides the results of this study.
Publication Year: 2004
Publication Date: 2004-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 1
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