RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PAVEMENT SURFACE TEXTURE AND HIGHWAY TRAFFIC NOISE

This synthesis report will be of interest to state department of transportation pavement engineers, environmental specialists, and noise analysts. The relationship between pavement surface texture and highway traffic noise is discussed. Information for the synthesis was collected by surveying state transportation agencies and by conducting a literature search of both domestic and foreign publications. This report of the Transportation Research Board provides detailed information on acoustical definitions and concepts, the theory of tire/pavement noise generation and current mitigation practice, measurement techniques, interior vehicle noise, reported noise emission results for pavement type and texture, effects of pavement wear, and surface friction and safety considerations.