This thesis was conducted on behalf of Butong AB, who wanted to test and develop an environmental friendly, so called green sound barrier, which combines both art and science.Different configurations of the product were proposed by the company with various filling materials, as it was predicted that the filling materials would be the main sound absorbent among all parts of the structure.The thesis work started by selecting the best of the proposed fillings which could be of interest - that is those which were expected to have high sound absorption coefficients. The selection process was based on experience, reading and advice. The main idea behind the selection process was saving cost for the company as well as effort.Impedance tube method was used for performing the measurements on samples of the green sound barriers, in order to calculate the acoustical properties of each material and every construction, as it was considerably reliable, cheap and fast to use.The measurements were done according to a combination between standards described in ISO 10534-2:1998 and ASTM E2611-09, for performing test measurements using the impedance tube.This master thesis gives an explanation of the predicted absorption characteristics of the green sound barriers including the usage of different fillings, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using it in real life applications.

La zona en estudio, ubicada entre los kilómetros 31 y 35 de la carretera Panamericana Norte, posee un nivel de presión sonora promedio de 76.48dB y 74.76dB en el horario diurno y nocturno respectivamente, y tomando como base Los Estándares de Calidad de Ruido Ambiental (ECA) se puede determinar que la zona en estudio se produce contaminación acústica. Por ello, las personas que frecuentan y/o circulan por esta zona se encuentran propensas a contraer distintas enfermedades y molestias producto de la contaminación sonora, entre ellas: Estrés, pérdida de audición con el paso del tiempo, problemas cardiológicos, entre otros. Ante lo mencionado, la presente tesis busca controlar el ruido generado por el parque automotor mediante la instalación de Barreras Acústicas en la sección vial de la Panamericana Norte, utilizando como materiales principales dos tipos de concreto, el concreto convencional y el concreto con agregados ligeros de aserrín y viruta. Para ello, el concreto con agregados ligeros de aserrín y viruta, material absorbente del sistema de Barrera Acústica, se lleva al laboratorio acústico para ensayar mediante el método del Tubo de impedancia, para obtener el coeficiente de nivel de presión sonora. Siendo este valor promedio de absorción sonora máxima de las muestras (α) 0.23. En conclusión, el sistema de barrera acústica diseñado alcanza a absorber hasta 23% del nivel de presión sonora percibido, y con ello la zona en estudio se encuentra dentro de los Estándares de Calidad de Ruido Ambiental. / The area under study, located between kilometer 31 and kilometer 35 of the Northern Pan-American Highway, has an average sound pressure of 76.48dB during daytime and 74.76dB during nighttime. Taking the Environmental Noise Quality Standards (ECA, in Spanish) into consideration, it can be determined that the noise pollution occurs in the area under study. Therefore, the people who frequent or pass by this area are prone to contract various diseases or malaise as a result, such as stress, gradual hearing loss, heart issues, among others. Given the situation, this thesis aims at controlling the noise produced by motorized vehicles by installing sound barriers on said road section of the Northern Pan-American Highway, using two types of concrete as main materials: conventional concrete and concrete with light sawdust and woodchip aggregates. The concrete with light sawdust and swarf aggregates, absorbent material of the sound barrier system, is taken to the sound laboratory to perform tests through the impedance tube method to obtain the sound pressure level. This is the average value of the maximum absorption level of the samples (α) 0.23. In conclusion, the designed sound barrier system manages to absorb up to 23% of the perceived sound pressure level. With that, the area under study falls within the Environmental Noise Quality Standards. / Tesis