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Evaluation of U.S. and European Concrete Pavement Noise Reduction Methods

This document contains the results of Part 1, Task 2 of the ISU-FHWA project entitled "Concrete Pavement Surface Characteristics Project." It addresses the noise issue by evaluating conventional and innovative concrete pavement noise reduction methods. The first objective of this task was to determine what if any concrete surface textures currently constructed in the United States or Europe were considered quiet, had long-term friction characteristics, could be consistently built, and were cost effective. Any specifications of such concrete textures would be included in this report. The second objective was to determine whether any promising new concrete pavement surfaces to control tire-pavement noise and friction were in the development stage and, if so, what further research was necessary. The final objective was to identify measurement techniques used in the evaluation. The Part 1, Task 2 evaluation reported herein included (1) examination of conventional concrete pavement noise reduction methods used in the United States; (2) identification of promising new concrete pavement surfaces to control tire-pavement noise and friction in Europe; and (3) initial consistent field measurements of tire-pavement noise and friction with respect to texture. The evaluation concludes that (a) careful construction practices in the United States for artificial turf and burlap drag, longitudinal tining, and diamond grinding can be used to initially control noise (99/100-104/105 dBA) and provide adequate initial friction; (b) the noisiest pavements (>104/105 dBA) should be rehabilitated immediately, with no new noisy pavements constructed; (c) to achieve the quietest concrete pavements (<99/100 dBA), innovative solutions such as exposed aggregate and pervious concrete, need to be advanced; and (d) more study is necessary to understand the change of noise and texture characteristics over time and to increase consistency.