Mechanisms of acoustic aging of road surfaces
Regular paper
M+P
Tuesday 2 june, 2015, 09:20 - 09:40
0.2 Berlin (90)
Abstract:
The acoustic performance of road surfaces deteriorates with time. Texture
may
increase due to stone loss or, on the other hand, may decrease due to
compaction
and sweating of bitumen. Open surfaces may clog with dirt leading to a
reduced
or modified acoustic absorption and an increase of the flow resistivity.
Low noise surfaces depend on optimal surface characteristics, like an
optimized
surface texture. If these characteristics changes over time, the noise
reduction
decreases. This makes these surfaces especially vulnerable to surface
degradation. This is what we call acoustic aging.
The general unpredictability of the acoustic aging and the related
uncertainty
in planning of maintenance and resurfacing has limited the wide spread use
of
these surfaces as noise mitigation measures.
The CEDR organization ordered to undertake a project to develop procedures
that
enable the implementation of the acoustic performance of road infrastructure
elements, such as road surfaces, into pavement management systems (PMS).
Hence,
a model was developed that describes the aging of road surfaces in Europe.
This study has gathered data from several countries in Europe on the age
related
performance of several types of road surfaces, mainly under highway
conditions.
The results of the study are presented in this paper.