Development of a Wind Load Reduction Soundproof System

Soundproof walls are often added to concrete viaducts to help reduce railway noise. However, wind load and moment make it difficult to install extremely high soundproof walls without drastic reinforcement of the viaduct. This study proposes a new soundproof system that is composed of a clear soundproof plate and supporting frames. The top of soundproof plate is supported by a rotary axis. All or parts of the other three sides of the plate are fixed by magnetic attractive forces. The plate usually remains closed in ordinary conditions and offers high soundproofing performance. However, the plate opens and the appropriate wind load is released when the wind load exceeds the safety limit for the viaduct. A load test and a wind tunnel test confirm the function of the wind load mechanism for the proposed soundproof system.