DURABILITY OF SOUND ABSORBING MATERIALS FOR HIGHWAY NOISE BARRIERS

Abstract This paper presents the results of a research study into two properties of sound absorbing materials intended for highway noise barrier applications: their durability and their sound absorption coefficients before and after exposure to adverse weather. After surveying the products of 34 manufacturers, eight materials and one “absorption system” were tested in the field and the laboratory. Even though there is no single, accepted test for weather endurance for these kinds of material, the results of the study provide in ormation on their likely future behaviour when installed on a barrier. The results apply at least partially to other outdoor situations too, and augment the limited information presently available on sound absorptive materials for outdoor use.