SOUND PROPAGATION THROUGH VEGETATION

The propagation of sound through a large number of scatterers (i.e. trees) is treated in a similar way to a classical diffusion problem. A general differential equation governing the sound intensity is derived which is valid under certain conditions, notably that the depth of the belt of vegetation is large, and absorption small. The predictions of this theory are compared with results derived from a small scale model study, and with some field measurements. They are also compared with published field data. The implications of some of the conclusions reached for the practical achievement of effective sound attenuation are pointed out. In general, it would appear that significant noise reductions may be achieved for a predominantly high frequency source if the existing ground cover is acoustically hard, or if there is no "ground effect" attenuation between source and receiver for some other reason. In other cases, the noise reduction will be much lower and may be negative.(a) (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/0022460X
• Corporate Authors:

  Academic Press Incorporated

  24-28 Oval Road
  London NW1 7DX,   England 
• Authors:
  • BULLEN, R
  • Fricke, F
• Publication Date: 1982-1

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 11-23
• Serial:
  • Journal of Sound and Vibration
  • Volume: 80
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0022-460X
  • EISSN: 1095-8568
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0022460X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Absorption; Differential equations; Frequency (Electromagnetism); Ground cover; Mathematical models; Noise barriers; Noise control; Reduction (Chemistry); Scale models; Size; Sound; Sound; Sound absorption; Sound level; Structural models; Vegetation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Attenuation; Decreases
• Old TRIS Terms: Propagation; Reduction
• ITRD Terms: 6758: Absorption; 9009: Decrease; 9014: Dimension; 6997: Frequency; 6473: Mathematical model; 6205: Model (not math); 2886: Noise barrier; 6748: Sound; 6747: Sound level; 2488: Vegetation
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00349981
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Jun 30 1982 12:00AM