Efficiency of Highway Noise Barrier with Horizontal Louver

Abstract

A type of highway noise barrier is designed to possess both acoustical and non acoustical benefits such as amenity for residents and drivers. One idea for the non acoustical benefit is to apply apertures to barriers. In the design, absorptive louver blades are applied to barriers so that the acoustical performance of the barrier can be improved. The barrier, i.e., horizontal louver, looks like sun shading blinds.
The acoustical performance of this type is examined by scale model experiments and calculated by two-dimensional BEM. Trial products of horizontal louver are made in full scale and the efficiency of barriers against the highway noise is investigated at a place where an elevated road is simulated. Test results show that noise reduction of 2dB over conventional barrier is obtained.