Acoustic properties of concrete modified with an asphalt/styrene butadiene emulsion

Abstract

Abstract This work describes the acoustic properties, such as absorption and reflection acoustic coefficients and noise reduction coefficient (NRC), and the mechanical strengthening of a modified asphaltic emulsion concrete. The asphalt emulsion has emulsifying agents, water and 62% asphalt, and has been mixed with styrene butadiene (SB) to 5% in asphalt weight. The concrete was made with high strength cement. Additionally, the concrete was modified with the SB emulsion at 5, 15 and 20% (CM5, CM15, CM20) of the cement weight. The results showed different coefficients depending on the wave frequency. CM20 shows the higher absorption coefficient. On lower frequencies, the concrete pattern (CP) and CM5 have higher reflection coefficients. CM20 indicated one hundred percent increase on the NRC related to CP. Al the same time, the compressive strength decreases proportionally to the amount of emulsion between 13 and 43% compared to the concrete pattern.