In the context of sustainable development and environmental protection, a special issue is represented by noise generation and propagation in the urban environment. An important contribution at the noise generated by the road transportation means in the urban environment has the noise produced by the contact between the wheel and the rolling surface. In this paper we present an investigation of the effects of rubberized asphalt on decreasing the noise produced by the contact between the wheel and the rolling surface in the road traffic. This is a very actual problem which concerns also the researchers from USA, Great Britain, Italy, and so on. In our country it is for the first time when these kinds of problems are undertaken. In this paper we investigated the noise generated by the transportation means in the urban environment identifying the sources and the characteristics of the noise generated by the contact between the wheel and the rolling surface, the propagation ways, noxious effects and admissible limits. In order to characterize the noise we have accomplished measurements in 62 points located near some of the most important crossings from Timisoara City. The measurements were performed using the Bruel & Kjaer 2237 Controller Integrating Sound Level Meter, the N.L.-20 Sound Level Meter and the Bruel & Kjaer 2250 Hand Held Analyzer. These ones allowed identifying and recording the most important parameters of the noise. The results of measurements were processed, analyzed, interpreted and compared with the admissible values defined by standards. Some methods intended to decrease the noise generated by the contact between the wheel and the rolling surface were established and implemented. The effect of the implementation of these measures for decreasing the noise was evaluated through new measurements. In the paper we present a comparison between the situations existing in before and after the implementation of noise decreasing measures. In the same time, taking account that an important contribution to the noise generated by the road transportation has the wheel-road contact, this one can be reduced by covering the road with rubberized asphalt. Using this measure, it is obtained an important decrease of the noise level. This is used also for increasing the traffic safety through eliminating vehicle skidding. Consequently, we have analyzed in the paper the effect of the rubberized asphalt on decreasing the noise in Timisoara City.

noise; decreasing; rubberized asphalt

Presentation: oral