System-wide OBSI study to evaluate success of diamond grinding to attain project noise reduction goal

摘要

Our paper describes an on-board sound intensity (OBSI) tire/pavement noise measurement study performed for CDR Maguire on behalf of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation. Measurements were performed along Interstate Route 195 for conditions both prior to and after diamond grinding of the existing mainline concrete bridge deck and on/off-ramp surfaces. The goal of the grinding program was to reduce noise and complaints generated by traffic traveling over recently-installed transverse-tined concrete. This project required measurement, analysis, and presentation of continuous OBSI time histories for the entire study area, consisting of eight travel lanes and eight ramps for a total of approximately 15 kilometers (9 miles). The out-of-state contractor's payment bonuses/penalties were tied to measured OBSI levels after grinding, which challenged the testing program with the need for near-immediate measurements of the diamond-ground pavements. Measured before-grinding baseline OBSI levels among the 0.3 km (0.2 mi) roadway sections we report varied between 106 and 110 decibels. The reported after-grinding measurement results range from 101 to 104 decibels. Overall, OBSI levels were reduced by 4 to 8 decibels due to the diamond grinding and the contractor was successful in meeting the project noise reduction goal throughout the study area.