Low-Noise pavement technologies and evaluation techniques: a literature review

Traffic noise is the perpetual form of environmental pollution adversely affecting human health in urban environments. This literature review, intended for pavement researchers and professionals, looks at the continuously evolving low-noise asphalt pavement technologies and the techniques which can be used to evaluate them. Test methods for determining the acoustical properties of asphalt pavements are reviewed, in both the laboratory and field environments. The Close-Proximity (CPX) method is the most commonly used field test for pavement acoustics, followed by the Statistical Pass-By (SPB) and On-Board Sound Intensity (OBSI) methods. SPB seems is the most comprehensive methods, while the CPX is more practical. Methods for measuring the acoustical properties in the laboratory include the impedance tube for sound absorption and laboratory pavement noise simulators; with only the larger drum methods being able to produce conditions similar to in-situ. Methods for noise-relevant non-acoustical characteristics like surface texture, porosity and airflow resistivity were also reviewed. Optimizing surface texture at the macro-scale was found to be important in reducing tire/road noise. For pavement types, porous asphalt concrete (PAC) and its variants result in low-noise properties the most reliably, while having some drawbacks in durability and maintenance. Finally, various acoustical performance prediction models were discussed.

Automated summary

Traffic noise is a persistent form of environmental pollution that negatively affects human health in urban environments. This literature review examines the constantly evolving low-noise asphalt pavement technologies and evaluation techniques for researchers and professionals in the field. Various test methods for assessing the acoustic properties of asphalt pavements are discussed, including both laboratory and field environments. The Close-Proximity (CPX) method is the most commonly used field test, followed by Statistical Pass-By (SPB) and On-Board Sound Intensity (OBSI) methods. Additionally, methods for measuring non-acoustic characteristics relevant to noise, such as surface texture, porosity, and airflow resistivity, are reviewed. Porous asphalt concrete (PAC) and its variants are found to consistently exhibit low-noise properties, although they do have some limitations in terms of durability and maintenance. Various prediction models for acoustical performance are also discussed.