Implications of Tire-Pavement Noise & Texture Measurements

Tire-pavement noise emissions exceed those from other highway noise sources even at low vehicle speeds. The on-board sound intensity (OBSI) technique for tire-pavement noise measurement has been used to rank various pavements but little has been done applying OBSI results to a priori pavement design. Tire–pavement noise is the summation of sub-sources—of which texture is an important contributor. This paper examines the influence of texture on sound intensity based upon a review of the measurements performed to date. Pavement texture is best described by texture profile level, a logarithmic measure of the profile depth. Texture profile level as function of profile wavelength can be transformed to a function of frequency considering vehicle speed. After accounting for speed, the correlation of texture geometry and tire–pavement noise is apparent—such that texture is a controlling factor below about 1600 Hz at standard test conditions. Testing at a single, reference speed, i.e., 60 MPH, is inadequate to understand the texture contribution to overall tire–pavement noise and to quantify pavement contributions in highway noise predictions. Texture-induced noise may negate the benefits porous pavements. Vehicle noise emission levels for highway noise prediction (REMELs) that include tire-pavement noise must be deconstructed into sub-source “REMELs” for the various tire-pavement noise mechanisms. Further testing is needed to confirm these conclusions: OBSI should be measured simultaneously with pavement texture level (as a function of profile wavelength); and vehicle speed. Measured OBSI should be analyzed with respect to A-weighted texture level in the frequency domain.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADC40 Transportation-Related Noise and Vibration.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Staiano, Michael A
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2015-1-11 to 2015-1-15
• Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 16p
• Monograph Title: TRB 94th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Pavement design; Porous pavements; Running speed; Texture; Tire/pavement noise; Traffic noise
• Identifier Terms: On Board Sound Intensity; Reference Energy Mean Emission Level (REMEL)
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Pavements; I15: Environment; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01551499
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 15-1868
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 27 2015 11:23AM