Concrete Solutions for Quieter Pavements on Existing Roadways

One of the most pressing issues facing state departments of transportation (DOTs) is highway noise, particularly in urban areas. Where autos are the predominant vehicles on high-speed facilities, most of the noise is generated at the tire-pavement interface. Although not universally true, many of the noisiest concrete pavements are transversely tined pavements. This surface-texturing technique was used for many years because it was thought to develop the greatest level of safety through its friction characteristics. Transverse tining has in fact met friction needs, particularly in wet-weather areas. In recent years, however, citizen demands related to noise have led DOTs to consider remedial actions, such as asphalt overlays and diamond grinding, to quiet these pavements. DOTs are in need of greater information about long-term, cost-effective options to quiet these existing noisy pavements and to build quieter new pavements. Evaluation of options to address tire-pavement noise should include the expected life of the treatment and the maintenance and rehabilitation required to achieve that potential service life. Another very important factor to consider is the impact on highway users who experience the safety and time-lost impacts that result from frequent construction activities. This impact is especially critical on heavily traveled urban freeways that are frequently at or over their carrying capacities. Existing noisy concrete pavements can be diamond ground for a quieter tire-pavement interface or a concrete overlay can be placed with a quieter texture.

• Record URL:
  • http://www.cptechcenter.org/publications/quieter_pavements_tech_brief.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Iowa State University, Ames

  National Concrete Pavement Technology Center
  2711 S Loop Drive
  Ames, IA  United States  50010
• Authors:
  • Wiegand, Paul
• Publication Date: 2006-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: 4p
• Serial:
  • Tech Brief
  • Publisher: Iowa State University, Ames

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bituminous overlays; Concrete pavements; Diamonds; Friction; Grinding; Noise; Noise control; Pavement maintenance; Rehabilitation; Rolling contact; Service life; Surface course (Pavements); Texture; Urban areas; Work zone safety; Work zone traffic control
• Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements; I22: Design of Pavements, Railways and Guideways; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces; I60: Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01079315
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 22 2007 10:13AM