Development of a highway traffic noise prediction model that considers various road surface types

A highway traffic noise prediction model has been developed for environmental assessment in South Korea. The model is based on an outdoor sound propagation method and is fully compliant with ISO 9613 and the sound power level (PWL) estimation for a road segment, as suggested in the ASJ Model-1998 that is based on PWLs. Due to that model’s selection of two pavement types, such as asphalt or concrete pavement, an unacceptable traffic noise prediction is made in cases where the road surface is different from that on which the model is based. In order to address this problem, several road surface types are categorized, and the PWL of each surface type is determined and modeled by measuring the noise levels obtained from newly developed methods. An evaluation of the traffic noise prediction model using field measurements finds good agreement between predicted and measured noise levels.     

Estimation of directivity and sound power levels emitted by aircrafts during taxiing, for outdoor noise prediction purpose

Integrated noise model (INM) is the most internationally used software to calculate noise levels near airports. Take off, landing or pass by operations can be modeled by INM, but it does not consider aircrafts taxiing, which, in some cases, can be important to accurately evaluate and reduce airports’ noise assessment.Aircraft taxiing noise emission can be predicted using other prediction tools based on standards that describe sound attenuation during propagation outdoors. But these tools require data inputs that are not known: directivity and sound power levels emitted by aircraft during taxiing.This paper describes methods used to calculate directivity indexes and sound power levels, based on field measurements made in Madrid-Barajas Airport (Spain). Obtained results can be used as inputs for general purpose outdoor sound prediction software, which will be able to evaluate noise at airports vicinity as industrial noise.Directivity and sound power levels have been estimated in octave and third octave band terms, for several aircraft families.     

Sound quality prediction of vehicle interior noise using deep belief networks

The sound quality of vehicle interior noise strongly influences passengers’ psychological and physiological perceptions. To predict the sound quality of interior noise, a vehicle road test with four compact cars has been conducted. All recorded interior noise signals have been denoised via a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) denoising procedure and subsequently evaluated subjectively through the anchor semantic differential (ASD) test by a jury. In addition, a novel prediction method, namely, regression-based deep belief networks (DBNs), which substitute the support vector regression (SVR) layer for the linear softmax classification layer at the top of the general DBN’s structure, has been proposed to predict the interior sound quality. The parameter selection of the DBN model has been compared and studied using a grid search. In addition, four conventional machine-learning-based methods have been introduced to enable a comparison of the performance with the newly developed DBNs. Furthermore, the feature fusion ability of DBNs has been studied by varying the amount of information that the dataset offers. The results show the following: (1) The accuracy and robustness of the proposed DBN-based sound quality prediction approach are better than those of the 4 other referenced methods. (2) The multiple-feature fusing process can strongly affect the prediction performance. (3) Finally, the unsupervised pre-training process of the DBNs can enhance the information fusing ability. Finally, the newly proposed regression-based DBN approach may be extended to address other vehicle noises in the future.     

Verbal communication and noise in eating establishments

A new simple prediction model has been derived for the average A-weighted noise level due to many people speaking in a room with assumed diffuse sound field. Due to the feed-back influence of noise on the speech level (the Lombard effect), the speech level increases in noisy environments, and the suggested prediction model gives a 6 dB reduction of the noise level by doubling the equivalent absorption area of the room. This is in contrast to the lowering by 3 dB by doubling of the absorption area for a constant power sound source. The prediction model is verified by experimental data found in the literature. In order to achieve acceptable conditions for speech communication within a small group of people, a guide for the recommended minimum absorption area per person in eating establishments is provided.     

A novel traffic-noise prediction method for non-straight roads

In view of the well-recognized need for the availability of simple traffic noise–prediction methods for non-straight roads, such as interchanges and flyovers, an approximate traffic noise–prediction model, suitable for non-straight roads, was developed following the modeling process of the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) traffic-noise model. The approximate model is simpler than the FHWA model when the non-straight road is divided into several road sections, their traffic-noise levels calculated individually, and all the sound levels superimposed to obtain the total traffic-noise level of the entire non-straight road. The rational length of the small road section was investigated. The traffic-noise levels predicted using the approximate and the FHWA models were compared through an example and were shown to differ only very marginally. The approximate model is thus suitable for traffic-noise prediction for non-straight roads.     

Experimental and numerical study on aeroacoustic sound of axial flow fan in room air conditioner

Fan is one of the main noise sources of the room air-conditioners. Axial flow fans are widely used in the outdoor unit of split type air-conditioners. The interaction between the fan and the heat exchanger should be taken into consideration. However, only a few researches have been carried out on predicting the aeroacoustic noise because of the difficulty in obtaining detailed information of the flow field. This paper is to understand the generation mechanism of sound and to develop a prediction method for the flow field and the acoustic pressure field of the outdoor unit. Acoustic measurement is performed in a semi-anechoic chamber. Effects of each components is analyzed. Based on commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, Fluent, Fukano’s model is used to predict the overall sound pressure level of broadband noise. The predicted sound pressure levels based on original Fukano’s model are 7.66 dB and 7.42 dB lower than measurement results at 780 rpm and 684 rpm, respectively. And the errors are about 13%. However, when wake width and relative velocity are both calculated by numerical simulations and the distance to blade trailing edge is taken into consideration, the difference of sound pressure level between measurement and prediction is less than 3.4 dB and errors less than 5.5% while the distance is less than 10 mm. Thus, the distance to blade trailing edge should also be an important parameter for Fukano’s model. In comparison with experimental results, it is clearly shown that the Fukano method based on numerical simulation can provide more accuracy than the original Fukano model and numerical results are in a reliable level.     

Reduction of structure-borne sound in simple ship structures: Results of model tests

A method for the prediction of the transmission of structure-borne sound in ship structures is presented. Various methods to decrease the noise levels in the accomodation spaces in superstructures are investigated in model tests. The attenuation of structure-borne sound in the propagation path between source and receiver is increased by means of damping layers, resilient mounts and changed boundary conditions between main deck and superstructure. Damping layers are found to have only a local effect. Resilent mounts between superstructure and main deck can reduce the noise levels in the superstructure by the order of 10 dB(A).     

A road traffic noise pattern simulation model that includes distributions of vehicle sound power levels

Annoyance, sleep disturbance and other health effects of road traffic noise exposure may be related to both level and number of noise events caused by traffic, not just to energy equivalent measures of exposure. Dynamic traffic noise prediction models that include instantaneous vehicle noise emissions can be used to estimate either of these measures. However, current state-of-the-art vehicle noise emission models typically consider a single emission law for each vehicle category, whereas measurements show that the variation in noise emission between vehicles within the same category can be considerable. It is essential that the influence of vehicles that are producing significantly more (or less) noise than the average vehicle are taken into account in modeling in order to correctly predict the levels and frequency of occurrence of road traffic noise events, and in particular to calculate indicators that characterize these noise events. Here, an approach for predicting instantaneous sound levels caused by road traffic is presented, which takes into account measured distributions of sound power levels produced by individual vehicles. For the setting of a receiver adjacent to a dual-lane road carrying free flow traffic, the effect of this approach on estimated percentile levels and sound event indicators is investigated.     

Aircrafts’ taxi noise. Sound power level and directivity frequency band results

When noise mapping airports, the main noise sources are take offs and landings. But aircrafts’ taxi noise can also be important, and should be considered, for instance when there are residential buildings near the airport’s terminal.Main prediction tools, like Integrated Noise Model (INM), do not consider taxiing and standard outdoors noise predictions software applications must be used, to model taxi as industrial noise sources.This technical note shows frequency band sound power levels and directivity data for several aircrafts’ classes; so that an acoustic consultant can include taxi for noise mapping an airport.     

Prediction of the sound field into high-rise building facades due to its balcony ceiling form

This study presents the acoustic performance off tall building facades closed to roadway due to one of balcony configurations, namely ceiling, with an inclined form in terms of traffic noise reduction. Three inclined angles are tested (5,10, and 15°) with different balcony depths by using a Pyramid Tracing model developed by A. Farina. The results in terms of A-weighted sound pressure level reduction are expressed in free field into the balcony back wall. The protection level, defined as the difference in noise levels before and after inserting the proposed balcony form, has been used to assess the reduction offered by that configuration. A maximum reduction due to using these forms is obtained at higher floors and at balcony of 2 m depths and more. As a consequence of simulation results, it is found that the prediction of protection levels from 10th to 15th floor can be calculated from an empirical equation.     

SEA and contribution analysis for interior noise of a high speed train

This paper presents a detailed Statistical Energy Analysis (SEA) and contribution analysis of the interior noise of a high-speed train through extensive simulations and measurements. The SEA model was developed based on the actual geometrical parameters of a benchmark high-speed coach. Sound transmission loss levels of the structural components of the car body, which are required in the SEA model, were tested in a dedicated acoustic laboratory following international standard ISO 140-3:1995. Modal densities of these structural components were derived from measured frequency response functions using the modal counting method. Damping loss factors were obtained using the half-power bandwidth method and the vibration attenuation method. By considering the relationship between sound radiation and power transmission, coupling loss factors between structures and cavities were estimated. Source inputs to the SEA model were derived from field experiment data. Interior noise due to those sources was predicted using the SEA model and the prediction was generally in good agreement with measurement. Contribution analysis was then performed using this validated model through parametric study, and this analysis was further examined experimentally. In conclusion, for the coach that was investigated in this paper, the key factors for interior noise are sidewall vibration, bogie area noise, and floor sound transmission loss. Based on this and other engineering considerations, an interior noise control strategy can be defined.     

水声波导中包络线谱强度数值预报

为了预报声呐远距离检测包络线谱的性能,本文分析在辐射噪声传播过程中包络线谱强度衰减的原因及提出在水声波导中包络线谱强度的数值预报方法。依据周期性局部平稳过程对舰船辐射噪声建模,推导出无噪声干扰及有噪声干扰下的包络线谱强度的数学表达式,获得了包络线谱强度传播衰减的规律,在水声波导中包络线谱声级传播规律与平稳谱一致,但包络线谱高出连续谱的强度的衰减取决于随信噪比变化的调幅深度修正因子。包络线谱强度数值预报方法如下:先利用传播衰减的数值方法例如用简正波方法波数积分方法PE方法等求出平稳辐射噪声的传播衰减,再求信噪比,最后依据调幅深度修正因子获得包络线谱强度降低的分贝数,预报出在水声波导中任意一点包络线谱信号高度。该理论和数值预报方法具有创新性,实用,简单,适合工程应用。      

利用卷积网络的高速列车主观声品质预测

随着高速列车在中国的高速发展,乘客对舒适性的要求不断提高。因此高速列车内声学舒适性是一个需要研究和解决的问题。首先,该文基于声学人工头设备,获取了高速列车行驶在350 km/h速度下不同车厢、不同区域的双耳噪声样本,并对其分别开展了主观声学评价和基于响度、尖锐度、粗糙度和抖动度等参数的客观声品质分析。结果表明,350 km/h速度下高速列车车内噪声能量集中在3000 Hz以内,风挡区域是舒适性评价较差的位置,而响度是影响主观评价最大的因素。其次,利用卷积神经网络算法将主观评价结果与高速列车噪声样本相关联,建立了车内噪声主观声品质预测模型,并与基于BP神经网络的预测模型进行了对比。结果表明,基于卷积神经网络的主观声品质预测模型具有更高的预测精度,更适宜用于指导高速列车车内声学舒适性的优化设计。     

Noise Prediction in Subsonic Flow Using Seventh-Order Dissipative Compact Scheme on Curvilinear Mesh

In this paper, we investigate the performance of the seventh-order hybrid cell-edge and cell-node dissipative compact scheme (HDCS-E8T7) on curvilinear mesh for noise prediction in subsonic flow. In order to eliminate the errors due to surface conservation law (SCL) is dissatisfied with curvilinear meshes, the symmetrical conservative metric method (SCMM) is adopted to calculate the grid metric derivatives for the HDCS-E8T7. For the simulation of turbulence flow which may have main responsibility for the noise radiation, the new high-order implicit large eddy simulation (HILES) based on the HDCS-E8T7 is employed. Three typical cases, i.e., scattering of acoustic waves by multiple cylinder, sound radiated from a rod-airfoil and subsonic jet noise from nozzle, are chosen to investigate the performance of the new scheme for predicting aeroacoustic problem. The results of scattering of acoustic waves by multiple cylinder indicate that the HDCS-E8T7 satisfying the SCL has high resolution for the aeroacoustic prediction. The potential of the HDCS-E8T7 for aeroacoustic problems on complex geometry is shown by the predicting sound radiated from a rod-airfoil configuration. Moreover, the subsonic jet noise from nozzle has been successfully predicted by the HDCS-E8T7.     

Reliability improvement of a sound quality index for a vehicle HVAC system using a regression and neural network model

The reduction of vehicle interior noise has long been the main interest of noise and vibration harshness (NVH) engineers. A driver’s perception of vehicle noise is largely affected by psychoacoustic noise characteristics and SPL. Among the various types of vehicle interior noise, the sound of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is a source of distraction for drivers. HVAC noise is not as loud as the overall noise level; however, it affects a driver’s subjective perception and may lead to feelings of nervousness or annoyance. Therefore, vehicle engineers work not only to reduce noise, but also to improve sound quality. In this paper, HVAC noise samples were taken from many types of vehicles. Objective and subjective sound quality (SQ) evaluations were obtained, simple and multiple regression models were generated, and these were used with the Semantic Differential Method (SDM) to determine what characteristics trigger a “pleasant” response from listeners. The regression analysis produced diagnostic statistics and regression estimates. In addition, neural network (NN) models were created using three objective numerical inputs (loudness, sharpness, and roughness) of the SQ metrics and one subjective output (“pleasant”). The NN model was used primarily because human perceptions are very complex and often hard to estimate. The estimation models were compared via correlations between SQ output indices and hearing test results. Results demonstrated that the NN model is most highly correlated with SQ indices, which led to determination of suggested methods for SQ metrics prediction.     

A comparative study of different numerical models for predicting train noise in high-rise cities

Large-scale outdoor field measurements were carried out on a residential building to assess the noise levels caused by pass-by trains that run on a nearby viaduct. The experimental results were compared with different schemes for predicting noise from trains. The octave band sound power levels of the train passing by, which are required as input parameters for the Nordic prediction method for train noise (NMT), CSTB 92 and ISO 9613-2 provided in the Mithra software, were determined by an inversion method. The method of calculation of railway noise (CRN) from the UK gives the best agreement with the measured results. The NMT prediction scheme also provides a good prediction of the general trend of the experimental data, but it always overestimates the measured noise levels. As far as the quantitative agreement with experimental data is concerned, the CSTB 92 and ISO 9613-2 prediction schemes are comparatively less satisfactory.     

Noise and disturbance caused by vehicles crossing cattle grids: Comparison of installations

Cattle grids are used on roads and tracks to prevent grazing animals from leaving an open space without fencing onto a more controlled area where access to the road from surrounded land is more limited. They are widely used in the UK at the entrances to common and moorland areas where animals are free to roam, but also on private drive entrances. Typically, they consist of a series of metal bars across the road that are spaced so that an animal’s legs would fall through the gaps if it attempted to cross. Below the grid is a shallow pit that is intended to further deter livestock from using that particular crossing point. The sound produced as vehicles cross these devices is a characteristic low frequency “brrrr” where the dominant frequencies relates to the bar passage frequency under the tyres. The sound can be disturbing to riders and their horses and walkers and residents living close by as evidenced by press reports and the need to consider noise aspects in planning for new installations. For this reason and due to the lack of available information on the size and nature of the problem measurements and recordings have been made at a number of sites in Yorkshire in the UK. In addition, questionnaire surveys of residents living close by and façade measurements have also been used to gauge impact. Results show that there is a wide variation in the maximum noise level produced by cattle grids of apparently similar design. This can be related to impact noise produced by the movement of all or part of the grid as the frame comes under impulsive loading as the vehicle crosses. It was further established that some residents living close to the cattle grids were disturbed by the noise, and in some cases vibration, and wanted them removed or suitably modified.     

Determination of the sound energy level of a gunshot and its applications in room acoustics

In some cases an impulsive noise source such as a gunshot can be a preferred alternative when investigating building acoustics, including sound insulation measurements, when compared to conventional steady state noise sources. A gun equipped with blank cartridges is an impulsive noise source that is lightweight and small enough to be easily transported. The differences in the noise characteristics between individual cartridges for the same gun are usually small, so the impulsive source can be replicated to a high degree. This paper is focused on the practical application of the sound exposure levels produced by a gunshot with a known sound energy level in the rooms under investigation. In this way, the equipment and methods required by the conventional method are simplified significantly. Furthermore, reverberation times need not be measured, since the equivalent absorption area can be directly obtained from the measured sound exposure levels. Using Green’s theorem, the roles of the sound source and measuring microphone were exchanged, which simplified the determination of sound insulation as it was easier to change the position of the gun than the microphone. The results obtained using the impulsive noise source were in good agreement with those obtained using the conventional method. Above 100 Hz, their difference in any frequency band of interest was less than 1 dB.     

Prediction of flow noise from in-duct spoilers using computational fluid dynamics

This paper presents a method for the prediction of flow noise from in-duct spoilers using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Previous work conducted by Mak [Mak CM. A prediction method for aerodynamic sound produced by multiple elements in air ducts. J Sound Vib 2005;287:395–403] and Mak et al. [Mak CM, Wu J, Ye C, Yang J. Flow noise from spoilers in ducts. J Acoust Soc Am 2009;125:3756–65] provides a method for such a prediction based on experimental data. In this work, the advanced Large-eddy Simulation turbulence model (LES) is used to compute the mean pressure drop across spoilers and the fluctuating drag forces acting on them. The predictions of the numerical simulation agree well with those based on experimental data and the actual, measured levels. With the aid of CFD simulation, engineers are now able to use the prediction method developed by the authors to predict the flow noise from in-duct spoilers using the LES turbulence model.