Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1979. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Paola Crandall Fano. / M.S.

This document reports on a research project aimed at developing a concrete acoustic barrier made from Recycled Aggregate (RA) Concrete. The research project was undertaken in response to the needs expressed by the Victorian concrete recycling industry. The industry, the scientific community conducting research into relevant disciplines, and the community at large, represented by Victorian government agencies, are of the opinion that there is a need to devise a higher value utilisation application for selected concrete recycling products. This document outlines the rationale and objectives of the research project which involves the examination of Recycled Concrete (RC) Aggregate, the design and examination of RA Concrete, and finally the development of an acoustic barrier made from RA Concrete. The literature review presented in this report examines aspects of concrete recycling and concrete technology pertaining to traditional and alternative constituent materials for concrete production. Firstly, the importance and influence of fine and coarse aggregate on basic properties of concrete is introduced. Secondly, an account on the use of alternative materials in concrete technology, especially of coarse recycled aggregates and supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) is described. Thirdly, some of the physical and mechanical properties and how the use of RC Aggregate and SCM changes these properties are discussed. Fourthly, a number of commonly used techniques and neutron scattering techniques to investigate aggregate and concrete properties are introduced and discussed. Fifthly, the porosity of aggregate and concrete including durability are specifically discussed and testing methods are reasoned. The literature review also discusses the use of no-fines concrete; its physical, mechanical and acoustic properties. Finally it presents an account of the use of concrete in transportation traffic noise attenuation devices. This document continues with an outline of a methodology that was adopted in this research project. It outlines experimental work aimed at examining the properties of RC Aggregate which amongst other properties includes porosity, particle size distribution, water absorption, shape and density. It continues examining RA Concrete properties and includes, among other properties, compressive strength, porosity and durability as well as sound absorption of acoustic barrier. The methodology introduces standard and purposely modified test procedures used in the examination of aggregates, concrete and acoustic barrier. An account of various research techniques is presented, spanning from simple visual observations to more sophisticated neutron scattering techniques. The summary of test procedures follows a description of test specimen composition and their sizes, and a suite of tested specimens. It also introduces statistical methods used to analyse test results. After a detailed description of the aggregate, concrete and RA Concrete acoustic barrier, the document outlines a summary of data generated through the experimental program of this research project. The data on fine aggregate, on selected 14/10mm coarse RC Aggregate, on concrete made from natural and recycled aggregate and on acoustic barrier are presented and discussed. Test results of various physical, mechanical and acoustic properties of aggregate, concrete and barrier are reported, analysed and discussed. The data from observations, visual assessment and scientific experimentation of specific properties are then crossed analysed in a search for relationships between properties of fine and coarse aggregates and properties of concrete made from such aggregates. A cross analysis of data on ?less-fines? RA Concrete and on the acoustic performance of barrier is examined, and the relationship between the volume of interconnected voids in a porous part of ?less-fines? concrete, and the sound absorption of acoustic barrier is discussed and reported. The document then presents a synthesis of the literature review results, project aims adopted within the experimental program and test results in the three main areas of this research project. These areas include recycled concrete aggregate, recycled aggregate concrete and acoustic barrier made from RA Concrete. Finally, conclusions reached through the course of this investigation are summarised and recommendations are proposed in relation to the RA Concrete acoustic barrier. The main conclusion is that selected RC Aggregate can be used in the production of concrete of a compressive strength of 25MPa, if the moisture content and water absorption in the aggregate are closely monitored, and the foreign material content is kept below 1.5%. The author concludes that acoustic barrier made from selected RC Aggregate has unique sound absorption characteristics that can easily be tunable by a selection of appropriate aggregate and by specific concrete mix designs. Recommendations for further research are also proposed.

Thesis (PhD) - Swinburne University of Technology, 2006. / Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering, Swinburne University of Technology - 2006. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Common practice in acoustic design does not consider air gaps. Thereare different opinions about air gaps and their affect on noise reduction.The report analyzes the credibility of the requirements used in a theoretical calculation model that addresses noise reduction in acoustic screens. Several measurement results from empirical attempts in a realistic environment for different screen models are compared.The result shows that a horizontal 50-millimeter gap has no noticeable impact on noise reduction. The result for horizontal air gaps against ground is of particular interest as it allows a simplified foundation to be used.Vertical air gaps have a greater negative influence on noise reduction but the results presented in the report can be used when lower demands are set on screens.An economic analysis shows that the result from the experiment when using a simplified foundation results in a cost reduction ofapproximately 300 SEK per meter acoustic screen.

Yes / The surface transport infrastructure (i.e. road and rail) has seen increasing pressure in recent years to achieve better sustainability performance. Transport Noise Reducing Devices (NRDs) form a major part of the surface transport infrastructure system in mitigating undesirable surface noise pollution to impacted communities. Their sustainability is a growing interest for practitioners and policy makers in this area as NRDs projects now have to balance integrating and assessing social, environmental, and economic objectives besides meeting key technical requirements. This paper presents an account of the first study carried out to assess the absolute sustainability of NRDs via the application of multi criteria analysis (MCA) techniques. The general procedure, selection of criteria, data gathering, and the use of three MCA techniques, SAW (Simple Additive Weighting), PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organisation MeTHod for Enrichment Evaluations), and ELECTRE III (Elimination et Choice Translating Reality), to assess the absolute sustainability of two built and operating European NRDs projects (one in Spain, and one in Italy) is presented. The novel concept of defining an Optimal Hypothetic Ideal Solution (OHIS) to assess the sustainability of NRDs in absolute terms to achieve this end is also introduced and discussed. The presented case studies will thus provide a useful model for practitioners to adopt or amend to conduct their own assessments of NRDs' sustainability. The paper further concludes that the generation of index values by the three MCA techniques to denote the overall absolute sustainability of solutions is a useful feature for communicating the sustainability of NRDs across a broad range of stakeholders, and for conducting “what-if” analyses. The presented research could also support broader aims of developing harmonized sustainability standards for the NRDs industry to adopt and so forward the sustainability transport agenda.

Yes / There is increasing legislative and public pressure for the design and build of road infrastructure schemes to achieve better sustainability performance. Roadside noise barriers (RNBs) form a major part of the growing road infrastructure system in mitigating undesirable road noise to impacted communities. However, the relative sustainability of common RNBs is little understood in the research and industry literature. This makes it difficult for stakeholders to make informed decisions with regards to the sustainable design and procurement of RNBs. This paper presents nowel research carried out to assess and rank the relative sustainability of 13 RNB types using three multi criteria analysis (MCA) techniques, i.e. Simple Additive Weighting (SAW), Preference Ranking Organisation MeTHod for Enrichment Evaluations (PROMETHEE), and Elimination et Choice Translating Reality (ELECTRE III). The paper concludes that the presented sustainability rankings of the main RNB types from least sustainable to most sustainable will support the relevant stakeholders, involved in the planning, design, and procurement stages, to evaluate the sustainability of RNB options as either part of a large highways scheme or standalone project. The presented results will save significant analysis time and costs in cases whereby it is unfeasible to conduct MCAs. The presented sustainability asssessment methodology may also provide the basis for an industry sustainability certification sceheme and in turn support advancing the sustainability transport agenda. / FP7 Quiesst research grant funded by the EU.

Résumé : Le but de cette étude est de développer un concept d’isolant acoustique à base de matières recyclées. Ce projet, initié par le Ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ), s’inscrit dans la conception d’écrans antibruit répondant aux exigences actuelles du développement durable et de la loi sur l’environnement. L’isolant acoustique devra donc être également recyclable. Un matériau de type coupe-son est caractérisé par son indice d’affaiblissement sonore. Plus un matériau est lourd, plus il est isolant. Cependant, un phénomène physique provoque une importante chute de son efficacité à une fréquence précise dépendant de la rigidité spécifique du matériau (i.e. rapport du module d’Young sur la masse volumique). Il devra donc avoir une masse importante tout en ayant un module d’Young adéquat pour éviter ce phénomène. Le polyéthylène basse densité linéaire (LLDPE), thermoplastique recyclable de grande consommation, est alors alourdi avec des billes d’acier de grande taille (3.175 mm) afin d’augmenter la rigidité spécifique du composite résultant. Le composite ainsi formé montre néanmoins une augmentation du module d’Young qui compense l’ajout de masse. Cette augmentation est causée par la liaison interfaciale entre le LLDPE et les billes de fer. Pour limiter cette cohésion, un effort de traction a été effectué sur les échantillons. Ceci a eu pour effet de briser le lien mécanique à l’interface des billes et du LLDPE. En conséquence, le module a suffisamment chuté pour atteindre des valeurs inférieures au matériau brut. De plus, l’augmentation de la fraction volumique va de pair avec la réduction du module d’Young. Un modèle analytique de prédiction du module d’Young en fonction de la fraction volumique de billes d’acier a été également établi. Il a été comparé aux modèles existants et a montré de bons résultats avec les mesures. Des simulations acoustiques de la perte par transmission ont par la suite été effectuées sur les composites obtenus afin d’évaluer leurs performances par rapport aux matériaux usuels (e.g. béton, gypse, verre,…) et par rapport à des écrans antibruit existants. Les résultats ont démontrés que les composites peuvent parfaitement se substituer aux matériaux utilisés et présentent dans certains cas de meilleurs résultats. || Abstract : The aim of this study is to develop a concept of an acoustic reflective material using recycled materials. This project, initiated by the Ministre des Transports du Quebec (MTQ), fits with the current requirements of sustainable development and environmental law. So the acoustic material should be also recyclable. An acoustic reflective material is characterized by its sound transmission loss. The heavier the material is, the better is its sound transmission loss. However, a physical phenomenon causes a significant drop in efficiency at a specific frequency depending on the specific stiffness of the material (i.e., the ratio of Young’s modulus and density) So the material must be heavy and should have a Young modulus adapted to avoid this phenomenon. Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), a largely available recyclable thermoplastic material, is then weighed down with large steel balls (3.175 mm diameter) to increase the specific stiffness of the resulting composite. However, the composite thus formed shows an increase of its Young's modulus that compensates for the added mass. This increase is caused by the interfacial bonding between the LLDPE and steel balls. To limit this bonding, a tensile stress was applied on the samples. This had the effect of breaking the mechanical link at the interface. As a result, the modulus has dropped to a value below that of the raw material. In addition, the increase in volume fraction of steel balls goes hand in hand with the reduction of the Young's modulus. An analytical model for predicting Young's modulus as a function of volume fraction of steel balls was also established. It was compared to existing models and shown good agreement with measurements. Simulations of the acoustic transmission loss are subsequently carried out on the obtained composites to evaluate their acoustical performance compared to conventional materials (e.g. , concrete, gypsum, glass, ...) and to existing noise barriers. The results show that the developed composites can fully replace conventional materials and show better results in some cases.

För att undersöka bullerskyddsskärmars akustiska prestanda med avseende på ljudabsorption mäts idag absorptionen inomhus i laboratorier. Detta är oftast inte lämpligt eftersom bullerskyddsskärmar används utomhus, där ett annat ljudfält råder. Således introducerades en ny mätstandard år 2016 för att kunna undersöka ljudabsorptionen i fält, med benämningen SS-EN 1793-5:2016. Metoden innebär att ljudreflektionen uppmäts, där ljudabsorptionen sedan kan erhållas eftersom de är varandras komplement. Mätmetoden tillämpades på tre bullerskyddsskärmar för att identifiera för- och nackdelar med metoden, analysera skillnader i ljudabsorption mellan olika typer av bullerskyddsskärmar samt för att jämföra ljudabsorptionen mellan fält- och laborationsmätningar. Det sistnämnda eftersom tidigare studier har visat att ljudabsorptionen generellt överskattas vid laborationsmätningar i jämförelse med fältmätningar (CEDR, 2017). Metoden var praktiskt genomförbar och fördelarna är att mätmetoden är mer representativ än laborationsmätningar för bullerskyddsskärmar där direkt ljudfält råder samt att metoden möjliggör undersökning av ljudabsorptionens förändring över tid. Nackdelar som påvisades var att metoden är tidskrävande, att skärmens ljudisolering även behöver mätas för att få reda på den fullständiga ljudabsorptionen, att det saknas tydliga specifikationer för hur mätdata för bullerskyddsskärmar som är < 4 m höga ska analyseras samt att låga frekvenser blir ogiltiga för skärmar som har en höjd < 4 m. De tre mätobjekten som undersöktes var en skärm i laminerat härdat glas i närheten av Fridhemsplan i Stockholm, en skärm i sträckmetall beklädd med vegetation intill Lidingövägen i Stockholm samt en skärm i Knivsta som består av sektioner i aluminium respektive akrylglas. Glasskärmen vid Fridhemsplan var generellt mest reflekterande, följt av akryglassektionen i Knivsta. Aluminiumsektionen i Knivsta och den vegetationsbeklädda metallskärmen vid Lidingövägen var mest absorberande. Skillnaderna mellan skärmarna berodde på att de består av olika material som var olika reflekterande respektive absorberande. För aluminiumsektionen i Knivsta utfördes en jämförelse mellan ljudabsorptionen som tidigare hade uppmätts i laboratorium och ljudabsorptionen som uppmättes i fält. Sektionen uppvisade mer ljudabsorption vid mätning i laboratorium än vid mätning i fält. Detta ansågs främst bero på att ljudfälten skiljer sig mellan laboratorium och fält.

There is a global and growing sustainability agenda for surface transport yet there are no specific means of assessing the relative sustainability of infrastructure equipment. Transport noise reduction devices are a significant part of the surface transport infrastructure: they specifically address environmental and social needs, have a high economic impact, and involve a wide range of raw materials raising multiple technical issues. The paper presents an account of the bespoke tool developed for assessing the sustainability of transport noise reduction devices. Regulatory standards for noise reduction devices and the relevant sustainability assessment tools and procedures adopted worldwide were reviewed in order to produce a set of pertinent sustainability criteria and indicators for NRDs projects, which were reviewed and edited during a stakeholder engagement process. A decision making process for assessing the relative sustainability of noise reduction devices was formulated following the review of the literature. Two key stages were identified: (1) collection of data for criteria fulfillment evaluation and (2) multi-criteria analysis for assessing the sustainability of noise reduction devices. Appropriate tools and methods for achieving both objectives are recommended.

Noise has become a main nuisance in urban areas to the point that according to the World Health Organization 40% of the European population is exposed to excessive noise levels, mainly due to ground transportation. There is therefore a need to find new ways to mitigate noise in urban areas. In this work, a possible device to achieve this goal is studied: a low-height noise barrier. It consists of a barrier typically less than one meter high placed close to a source, designed to decrease the noise level for nearby pedestrians and cyclists. This type of device is studied both numerically and experimentally. Tramway noise barriers are especially studied since the noise sources are in this case very close to the ground and can therefore be attenuated efficiently. The shape and the surface treatment of the barrier are optimized using a gradient-based method coupled to a 2D boundary element method (BEM). The optimization variables are the node coordinates of a control mesh and the parameters describing the surface impedance. Sensitivities are calculated efficiently using the adjoint state approach. Numerical results show that the shapes generated by the optimization algorithm tend to be quite irregular but provide a significant improvement of more than 5 dB (A) compared to simpler shapes. Utilizing an absorbing treatment on the source side of the barrier is shown to be efficient as well. This second point has been confirmed by scale model measurements. In addition, a full scale low height noise barrier prototype has been built and tested in situ close to a tramway track in Grenoble. Measurements show that the device provides more than 10 dB (A) of attenuation for a close receiver located at the typical height of human ears. These results therefore seem to confirm the applicability of such protections to efficiently decrease noise exposure in urban areas