Purdue researchers examine
highway noise levels
By John Wakefield
Staff
Writer
Purdue's new Institute for Quiet and Durable Highways
is searching for a way to decrease the roar of United States Highways.
The co-directors for the institute are Bob Bernhard,
a professor of Mechanical Engineering since 1982, and Vince Drnevich,
a professor of civil engineering and former head of Civil Engineering
Researchers. The two professors are combining their expertise in their
respective fields to oversee the research of the noise from highways
and the initiative to find a solution for the problem.
The majority of research on this topic will be
done at the Herrick Lab on Purdue's campus. The lab itself is an old
horse barn that was remodeled into a laboratory for measuring machine-made
noise.
Highway noise is generally made from the combined
noises of the vehicles' engine, the exhaust, the tires hitting pavement
and the noise from the wind running over the vehicle.
In Europe, a study was done on highway noise and
as a result, many European countries have implemented a decibel level
restriction focusing on car engines. However, the restrictions have
not had any effect on the noise level around highways, in fact the noise
has increased due to the increase in traffic density. Therefore, many
engineers have reasoned that most noise comes from the contact between
the tires and the pavement.
The United States is increasingly becoming more
aware of this problem and is funding research to find a solution. Purdue's
Institute for Quiet and Durable Highways receives much of its funding
from the United States Department of Transportation. Other sources of
funding include the Indiana Department of Transportation, the Federal
Highway Administration, Goodyear, Michelin and several concrete and
asphalt manufacturers.
Bernhard said there is a lot of collaboration on
the project, especially with Penn State University. "Most of it is done
here at Purdue and we are convinced that there is indeed a solution,"
he said.
At the moment, the Institute is trying to assemble
the best U.S. scientists and engineers to work on the project.
As directors, Bernhard and Drnevich are faced with
the task of orchestrating all the projects that are going on at once.
"Right now there are seven to eight projects going on with four more
under consideration. These projects range from quieter types of concrete
to noise-reducing rubber for tires," Bernhard said.
While Bernhard's field is mechanical engineering,
Drnevich brings the civil engineering side to the table. Drnevich said
that they "are trying to look at new pavement types and textures that
allow highways to be quiet while still maintaining safety and durability."
Dan Finfer, a junior in civil engineering, was
an intern on the project during the summer of 1999. "It was really exciting
to work on a project with such importance and nationwide ramifications,"
said Finfer.
Bernhard anticipates a workable solution soon.
"We should make a recommendation for a guideline that companies can
use for quieter highways within five years. Then we will move in to
the test phase where quarter-mile to one-mile strips of highway will
be test pavements, which will provide lots of new information," said
Bernhard.
Tomasz Drejer, a junior in atmospherical sciences,
is "ecstatic" about the new developments in quiet highways. A Cromwell,
Conn. resident, Drejer lives along a highway where "the noise certainly
takes away from the peacefulness of a relaxing backyard cookout."
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