ANALYSIS OF VEHICULAR NOISE

Abstract

Noise as an environmental pollutant is one of the burning issues. High level of noise affects instantaneously and leaves no residue. Prolonged exposure to noise level above 85 dB(A) can result in hearing impairment, narrowing of the blood vessels (hence rise in blood pressure), respiratory problems, digestive disorders, muscular tension, mental-illness, dilation of pupil etc. Road vehicles are the major source of noise and no other single source is of comparable importance. Various surveys around the world and in India have confirmed the fact that heavy vehicles are the major noise sources. The present work deals with the study of noise levels inside buses and trucks. The study is restricted to TATA make vehicles only, however a model study has been done on a diesel engine powered Mahindra Jeep. The work reported shows the effect of years, speed, types of body conditions and road surfaces on noise level inside the heavy vehicles. In the analysis of the noise the vehicle are subjectively categorised as Good, Medium and Poor depending upon their body condition and age. Trucks are categorised as Good, Medium, Poor and Empty depending upon the body and loading condition. Equivalent continuous noise levels inside the vehicles have been found for each case. Regression analysis has been done to obtain relationship between noise level and speed in each gear and category.