- Home
- Companies
- Soundinsight BV
- Articles
- Determination of Acoustic Properties of ...
Determination of Acoustic Properties of Noise Barriers - Case Study
Introduction
The acoustic performance of noise barriers is determined by many parameters. In general minimum values for the absorption and insulation are prescribed. These minimum requirements are then tested on a sample of the barrier by laboratory measurements (EN1793-1 [1] and/or EN1793-2 [2]). In-situ testing of the requirements occurs rarely.
Recently major improvements in the measurement methods for determining the in-situ values of noise barriers have been implemented. Laboratory and in-situ measurements have been compared. The results are not directly comparable, due to differences between the diffuse, omnidirectional sound field in the laboratory and the limited incidence angles that occur in the field. Additionally, new measurement methods have been developed by the University of Twente and SoundlnSieht which are suitable to determine the acoustic properties of noise barriers in-situ, for any complex sound field.
In this study, the relation between EN1793 laboratory and in-situ measurements is quantified, based on an extended measurement program of laboratory and in-situ techniques on different noise barrier samples. The SonoCat technique developed by SoundlnSight has also been applied. The results for all three measurement methods are presented and discussed. The goal is to enable the validation and conformity of the lab-based acoustic requirements of noise barriers wdth in-situ measurement methods. Within this research program the focus was on the acoustic insulation of noise barriers.