Influence of Exposed Aggregate Texturing on the Reducing Traffic Noise Emission

The effects of traffic noise are a serious concern in many urban communities throughout the world. Environmental noise at high intensities directly affects human health by causing hearing loss and indirectly affects human welfare by interfering with sleep, thought, and conversation. In general, portland cement concrete(PCC) pavement is known to create more noise than asphaltic surfaces though it has the advantage of durability and superior surface. However, the results of preliminary laboratory test showed exposed aggregate concrete(EAC) have an effect on reducing traffic noise. Based on the laboratory test, pilot construction of exposed aggregate concrete was performed and series of in-situ measurements were conducted for noise analysis which included the pass-by noise measurement and the close-proximity method. Conclusively, It is expected that tire/pavement noise which is represented much noise levels at higher frequencies would be significantly reduced on special textures of pavement as like exposed aggregate concrete.