Poroelastic Block Pavement as a Low Tyre/Road Noise Solution for Cities
Invited paper
ZAG Ljubljana
Tuesday 2 june, 2015, 14:40 - 15:00
0.2 Berlin (90)
Abstract:
A road pavement surface, made of poroelastic material (PERS), shows
excellent noise reducing qualities. In the forms we currently know, PERS
material consists of an aggregate of rubber granules or fibres, often
supplemented by friction-enhancing stone aggregates and a binder to hold the
mix together. Early stage tests in Japan and Sweden show that noise
reduction compared to the most common road pavements could reach 10 dB(A) or
more. The specific feature of this new type of road surfacing is that when
glued to paving blocks it makes a quiet and at the same time aesthetically
pleasing surface. Such a block pavement forms a perfect low tyre/road noise
solution to be used in cities, especially in their historic centres.
Within the ongoing large European project PERSUADE (www.persuadeproject.eu),
this special type of low-noise road pavement is being developed. The
research in such pavement is focused on assuring noise reduction capability
while solving wet skid resistance, which must be maintained at an acceptable
level, and the stability of the system of blocks, which must be sufficient
for a reasonable operating (life) time.
In the first half of the project, two promising mixes have been developed in
the laboratory. The first mixture was used to construct a short block
pavement and is being tested in a small test field in town of Nova Gorica in
Slovenia, already since September 2013. The second, improved mixture will
form a surface of a pavement constructed in autumn 2014 nearby in a larger
test track.
The larger test track size will allow to follow the PERS block pavement
behaviour through the winter 2014/15 and on, including noise performance,
durability, skid resistance of surface and pavement stability. Having built-
in two mixtures in the pavement surface of the neighbouring structures will
allow following and comparing their performance as well.