DESIGN OF NOISE BARRIER FOR FOUR LANE NATIONAL HIGHWAY

Abstract

In this 21st Century urbanization, motorization and industrialization are growing at an unexpected rate in almost all over the world. The primary cause behind the fast urbanization is availability of opportunities, proper employment, better education, better health related facilities etc. Although National Highways constitute only about 1.7 per cent of the road network, it carries 40 per cent of the total road traffic. The share of road traffic in total traffic has grown from 13.8 per cent of freight traffic and 15.4 per cent of passenger traffic in 1950- 51 to an estimated 62.9 per cent of freight traffic and 87 per cent of passenger traffic by the end of 2009-10. This in turn deteriorates the environment in terms of noise pollution, vehicular emission, traffic congestion etc. Such kind of environmental pollution shows its adverse impact on human health and causes various somatic and genetic diseases in human being. Road traffic is one of the major source of noise pollution. In the present study, it is found that the ambient noise level (Leq) is exceeding the standard permissible value at all the locations. The average equivalent sound level (Leq) in day time at residential locations is on an average of 75 dBA to 80 dBA whereas standard permissible value of Leq in day time for residential locations as prescribed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), is 55 dB (A). Even this average equivalent sound level (Leq) in day time at industrial location is also exceeding the standard permissible limit. In these affected areas the most effective reduction of traffic noise disturbances would be obtained by provision of noise barriers or enclosures. In the present study, an attempt has been made to develop spread sheets for prediction of noise based on FHWA method. Spread sheets are also developed for designing of noise barriers. Noise barriers of different materials are designed for different locations. The thesis is mainly focused towards the measurement of noise pollution at various locations