Calculations of low height noise barriers efficiency by using Boundary Element Method and optimisation algorithms

Abstract

Nowadays, roads and railways are often quoted as the most annoying source of noise for the living environment. This problem of ground transportation noise is present in extra-urban environments as well as in town centres. Traditional noise barriers are in many cases not suited for acoustic protection in urban areas mainly because of their height. Previous studies have shown a significant efficiency of low height noise protections (kind of urban furniture) for the decreasing of noise levels in semi-opened areas such as city parks, places, and large avenues. However, the simulations of low height noise protections requires specific numerical codes since ray tracing methods are not suited for barriers lower than around 2 m. This paper proposes a way to implement an approach with allow to simulate low height noise protections in engineering calculation methods. This can be done by creating a database using a Boundary Element Method numerical code combined with optimisation algorithms. Work is still in progress since only 2D configurations are considered at the moment.