Interior Car Noise Created by Textured Pavement Surfaces: Final Report

Report No: 76-R17

Published in 1975

About the report:

Because of widespread concern about the effect of textured pavement surfaces on interior car noise, sound pressure levels (SPL) were measured inside a test vehicle as it traversed 21 pavements with various textures. A linear regression analysis run on the dBA values and the predicted stopping distance numbers (PSDN) for the same pavements showed no correlation between them. It was concluded that noise is directly proportional to the degree of protuberance and to the angularity of the protruding particles, and inversely proportional, to the spacing of longitudinal grooves. From the aspect of annoyance, most of the textures studied did not generate such different intensities of noise as to be perceivable to the occupants of the vehicle. Based on limited data, it appears that transverse grooves tend to created some pure tones in the high frequency range most easily sensed by humans.

Documents

76-R17

_{Disclaimer Statement:The contents of this report reflect the views of the author(s), who is responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Commonwealth Transportation Board, or the Federal Highway Administration. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. Any inclusion of manufacturer names, trade names, or trademarks is for identification purposes only and is not to be considered an endorsement.}

Authors

David F. Noble

Last updated: January 29, 2024