Investigation of nonlinear propagation effects on sound from supersonic bullets

ISO standard 17201-4 is a calculation method for sound levels generated by supersonic bullets. The standard takes into account nonlinear propagation effects, including broadening of a sound pulse with increasing propagation distance. Two elements of the ISO method are investigated in this paper: i) the accuracy for various Mach numbers, and ii)...

The solar noise barrier project 4: Modeling of full-scale luminescent solar concentrator noise barrier panels

A full-size (1 × 5 m2) luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) has been constructed and the edge electric outputs from the attached photovoltaic cells monitored for a period of slightly over one year in the solar noise barrier (SONOB) “living lab” outdoor environment. The results of the edge electric output measurements were compared to ray-tracing...

Building the world's largest bifacial solar noise barrier

In the Solar Highways project, knowledge institutes ECN and SEAC, and the executive body of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment (Rijkswaterstaat) teamed up to build a bifacial fully integrated solar noise barrier. Not only is it the largest solar noise barrier in the Netherlands to date, it will also be the largest bifacial...

Maximizing annual yield of bifacial photovoltaic noise barriers

In this work we consider noise barriers with integrated photovoltaic modules. The novelty is that bifacial modules are considered. A full scale bifacial photovoltaic noise barrier was built and its power output was monitored. In addition we developed an advanced numerical model for predicting this power output for given weather conditions....

The solar noise barrier project: 1 effect of incident light orientation on the performance of a large-scale luminescent solar concentrator noise barrier

In this work we describe the relative performance of the largest luminescent solar concentrator (LSC)constructed to date. Comparisons are made for performance of North/South and East/West facing panels during a sunny day. It is shown that the East/West panels display much more varied performance during the day, as the structural elements of the...

Solar Highways Benchmark Study: An overview and evaluation of existing photovoltaic noise barriers

In this document we present an overview of known initiatives for PV Noise Barriers (PVNBs), to be able to learn from past failures and successes. We will not only focus on technical aspects, but also provide background information on financial and organizational issues.

Assessment of reflectivity of noise barriers in the far field – QUIESST method compared to traditional approach

The sound reflectivity of noise barriers elements is one of the major acoustic product characteristics. Traditionally this property was tested in reverberation rooms according to EN 1793-1 and the results were used to predict the effect of sound reflections in the far field. As in many cases these results cannot be used directly to assess the...

Far field effects of complex noise barrier reflections

Within the EU FP7 QUIESST project, QUIeting the Environment for a Sustainable Surface Transport, a test method is being developed for the reflectivity of noise barriers. The method needs to account for a complex shape of barriers and the use of various types of absorbing materials. The performance of a barrier is to be measured in the near field...

Simulating complex noise barrier reflections

Within the EU FP7 QUIESST project, QUIeting the Environment for a Sustainable Surface Transport, a test method is being developed for the reflectivity of noise barriers. The method needs to account for a complex shape of barriers and the use of various types of absorbing materials. The performance of a barrier is to be measured in the near field...

QUIESST, toward a better knowledge and understanding of how efficient noise barriers could actually be: Noise in the built environment

Since the early 80's, one models noise propagation, in the early 90's one started to standardize how to measure the intrinsic characteristics of manufactured noise barriers: in 1997, the EU funded ADRIENNE research ([1] and [2]) was a first step, but many problems still remained. Since years, all the noise propagation software are still modeling...

A barrier for low frequency noise from starting aircraft: Comparison between numerical and scale model results

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has organized a competition to design a noise mitigating measure along the 'Polderbaan' runway. Its main goal is to reduce the low frequency (LF) ground noise from starting aircraft. The winning concept is a flexible parabolic shaped noise barrier positioned relatively close to the runway. There is a large distance...

Noise barriers and the harmonoise sound propagation model

The Harmonoise sound propagation model ('the Harmonoise engineering model') was developed in the European project Harmonoise (2001-2004) for road and rail traffic noise. In 2008, CSTB Grenoble and TNO Delft have prepared a detailed description of the various steps involved in a calculation with the Harmonoise model. In the course of this joint...

Road traffic emission monitoring on motorways

Road traffic noise is one of the major environmental noise sources that is known to cause health problems. Despite existing noise reception items, the continuing growth of traffic causes higher levels than the lims allow. Consequently, excessive costs are incurred for noise barriers along roads and motorways. It's therefore essential to...