The Mathematical Modelling of the Performance of Noise Barriers

Analytical and numerical methods of modelling the acoustic performance of road traffic noise barriers are discussed, in particular the solution of the wave equation using boundary elements. Results are presented for a range of barrier profiles in the form of Insertion Loss spectra and the mean Insertion Loss for a broad band source characteristic of road traffic noise averaged over a range of representative receiver positions. The performance of barriers comprising multiple screens is considered. Comparison is made with the results of experimental modelling.