Road surfaces and traffic noise

Bucharest, 24 May 2007

Information Network
on QUiet European
road Surface
Technology
Presented by Guy Descornet
 Vehicle noise sources

a. Tyres
b. Air intake and outlet
c. Gearbox and transmission
d. Engine d a
e. Exhaust system
f. Air cooling system

b c e

1
 Tyre noise vs. Engine noise

2
3
65
67
69
71
73
75
77
79
81
83
85
87
BBDr 0/6

BBUM 0/6

BBTM 0/6-T2

BBDr 0/10
Low-noise

BBTM 0/6-T1

BBTM 0/10-T2

BBDr 0/14

BBM 0/10

ECF

ES 4/6
Medium

BBTM 0/10-T1

BBSG 0/10
(255 measurements)

BBUM 0/10

BBSG 0/14

BBTM 0/14

ES 6/8
Noisy

BC

ES 6/10
[LCPC, FR]

ES 10/14
Pass-by measurements (light vehicles, 90 km/h)
 Pass-by measurements (car, 3rd gear, 50 km/h)

85
Noise level (dBA)

80

75

70

65

A
A

C
PA

s
4)

0)

e
R
k

k
PC
SM

(1

(1

on
oc

oc
H
A

bl

bl

st
se

se

e
bl
et

et
en

en

cr

cr

ob
D

on

on

C
C

C
Road surface type
[A-Tech/FIGE report to IBGE/BIM, Brussels]

4
 Pass-by measurements

Vehicle Speed Noise level dB(A)

Numbe
type (km/h)
r
L
I
G
H
T

H
E
A
V
Y

LIGHT
HEAVY
ALL

[BRRC, BE]
5
 Some comparisons

6
 Tyre/Road interaction

• Vibrations of the sidewalls

• Air pumping
• Stick & slip
• Stick & snap
• Horn effect
• …

7
 Tyre vibration

• The tyre hits the peaks of

the surface

• The sidewalls vibrate and

radiate noise

8
 Air pumping

• At the leading edge of the

contact area: air is
squeezed out

• At the trailing edge: air

rushes in

9
 Stick & slip - Stick & snap

• The rubber sticks on the

surface

• The tread blocks slip or

snap

10
 « Horn » effect

• Not a source but an

amplifying effect

11
 Tyre noise radiation

• High frequency
(1000-2000 Hz)

• Low frequency
(500-1000 Hz)

12
 Road surface profile
Macrotexture

• Horizontal size of
irregularities
vs.
size of contact patch Megatexture

Unevenness

13
 Noise spectrum vs. Texture spectrum (I)

[BRRC, BE]

14
 Noise spectrum vs. Texture spectrum (II)

[BRRC, BE]

15
 Megatexture (I)

Intrinsic

16
 Megatexture (II)

Distress

17
 Megatexture (III)

Construction defect: waves in cement concrete

18
 Megatexture (IV)

Non homogeneous
macrotexture

19
 Noise vs. Skid resistance

Speed: 80 km/h

dB(A) Tire/Road Noise Level

Sideway Force Coefficient

[BRRC, BE]

20
 Noise absorption on porous asphalt

Absorption coefficient

• Absorption factor α =
absorbed sound energy /
incident energy
• Depends on frequency !
PA
DAC

(Hz)

21
 Absorption of noise from idling vehicles

Idling vehicles, engine on

85

80 Cement concrete

75 Porous asphalt
dB(A)

70
Henschel Citroën C25
65 Unimog Opel

60

55
100 900 2500 5000 10000

RPM
[BRRC, BE]

22
 Preventing air pumping

23
 Effect of pavement porosity on vehicle
noise spectrum
Dense asphalt
85 Porous asphalt single layer
80 Porous asphalt double layer
75
Noise level (dBA)

70
65
60
55
50
45
40
5

0
00

50

00

00

00

50

00
12

16

20

25

31

40

50

63

80
10

12

16

20

25

31

40
Frequency (Hz)
[M+P, NL]

24
 Basic rules for a silent surface
NO Megatexture, AND:

EITHER:
• Macrotexture:
• Depth > 0.5 mm
• Fine (max. chipping size 10 mm)
• Homogeneous
• Non periodic
OR:
• Porosity:
• Thickness > 40 mm
• Voids > 20%

25
 QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS?

26