The Correlation Between the Statistical Pass-By Index Values and the Total Number of Vehicle Passes

Abstract

Abstract In this study, the traffic noise degradation in asphalt pavements was analysed using the ‘Statistical Pass-By method’. The sound levels of two surfaces were monitored during 9 and 12 years of service, respectively. By comparing the dependencies of the maximum A-weighted sound pressure level on logarithm of vehicle velocity, an increase in the sound level was found at all recorded speeds. Following an analysis of sound levels, as combined with the statistical pass-by index (SPBI) calculated versus age (expressed in vehicles), it was determined that the noise is an increasing power function of SPBI values on vehicle passes, based on an approximation of noise level adjustment to a reference temperature of 20 °C (using a coefficient of 0.06 for asphalt concrete surface AC11 and - 0.03 for mastic asphalt SMA11). The adjusted traffic noise degradation model showed that the SMA11 surface has a higher resistance to acoustic degradation than AC11 surface.