Measurement and Evaluation of Airborne Sound Insulation and Absorption Characteristics of Noise Barriers Made of Different Materials for Noise Control Applications

Abstract

The present study reports the airborne sound insulation and absorption characteristics of noise barriers and acoustical facades tested in reverberation chambers. These materials were fabricated from the sandwich partition panels and masonry structure for noise control. The study presents the rarely reported sound insulation and absorption properties of wide kinds of sandwich and masonry constructions used as noise barriers. The sound insulation characteristics of metallic, polycarbonate sheets (transparent/opaque), composite fiber cement boards, AAC blocks, green materials, facade glass, and other distinct materials are presented for their applications either as noise barriers or acoustical facades in buildings exposed to higher noise levels. Also, the sound insulation as well as absorption performances of recycled plastic, polycarbonate and metallic material based noise barriers were evaluated. The study also presents the sound insulation characteristics of temporary noise barriers that can be useful for noise control at construction sites and sound absorption characteristics of metal absorptive noise barriers tested in reverberation chambers. The applications of the study may not be limited only to usability as a noise barrier but also to balcony treatments and facades. The rarely reported sound insulation and absorption characteristics of various materials discussed in the present study makes it indispensable for designers and consultants for developing noise barriers accomplishing the desired insertion loss characteristics.