Effects of Crumb Rubber Particles on Asphalt Pavement Traffic Noise Absorption

Traffic noise is a major setback to the life quality of residents living in the vicinity of highways. Over the past 40 years, much legislation has been passed to regulate the sound level with which residents are exposed to around the country. Among the many approaches adopted to alleviate the problem, crumb rubber modified asphalt has been proposed as a measure to reduce highway traffic noise. This research investigates the effects of crumb rubber particles on the ability of an asphalt pavement to absorb noise. Several types of mixtures were evaluated with and without the presence of crumb rubber with air void contents of 3.5%±0.5% and 16%±0.5% for dense and porous mixes, respectively. The effects of crumb rubber concentration and gradation were evaluated to better understand the factors that affect the sound absorption of mixtures. The results indicated that the effect of crumb rubber as an energy absorbent (damping) material is minimal and does not significantly increase the sound absorption. However, the presence of crumb rubber particles affected the volumetric properties of the mixtures, which consequently affected the sound absorption. In summary, crumb rubber was not shown to directly affect sound absorption, but it did indirectly affect it through other changes in mixtures’ properties such as permeability and binder content.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Shatanawi, Khaldoun M
  • Putman, Bradley
  • Amirkhanian, Serji
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 88th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2009-1-11 to 2009-1-15
• Date: 2009

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: DVD
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 15p
• Monograph Title: TRB 88th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air voids; Asphalt mixtures; Asphalt pavements; Bituminous materials; Crumb rubber; Mix design; Noise barriers; Quality of life; Sound absorption; Traffic noise
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01124831
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 09-3197
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 25 2009 2:13PM