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Comparison and Testing of Various Noise Wall Materials

Theberge, Ryan C.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1399372564

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Civil Engineering (Engineering and Technology).
Noise abatement is an ever growing need in today's world as traffic volumes increase. Noise barriers provide local resident relief from high noise levels that can be created from a high volume highway. A standard noise barrier can be constructed from multiple types of materials, such as concrete or steel. These different types each have acoustical qualities that are particular to that material. To define which materials provided the best abatement, a two-part study was conducted to compare the decibel levels for six different materials and to compare the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Traffic Noise Model (TNM) to the field results. To obtain the field results, an extensive field study was performed with recording microphones placed in specific patterns behind the wall. The model was used to replicate the field setup, and the model results were compared to the results obtained in the field. The amount of noise reduction from the field recording ranged from 11 dB to 19 dB. Based on a statistical analysis, it was found that the top material choices were the clear panel, concrete panel, hollow fiberglass panel, and steel panel. The other two, acoustic fabric and earthen berm, were significantly worse. Seventeen sites were compared to the FHWA model. The statistical analysis from the model comparisons found that of the 17 sites that 5 of them were significantly different from the model. Overall, the noise barrier materials were determined and the application of the noise model was found to be limited.
Deborah McAvoy, Ph.D (Advisor)
Ben Stuart, Ph.D (Committee Member)
Ben Sperry , Ph.D (Committee Member)
Douglas Green, Ph.D (Committee Member)
225 p.
Civil Engineering
Noise Wall Material; Noise Abatement; Traffic Noise Model; Acoustic Fabric;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Theberge, R. C. (2014). Comparison and Testing of Various Noise Wall Materials [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1399372564

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Theberge, Ryan. Comparison and Testing of Various Noise Wall Materials. 2014. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1399372564.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Theberge, Ryan. "Comparison and Testing of Various Noise Wall Materials." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1399372564

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1399372564
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© 2014, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.