Browsing by Author "Fernandez, Pilar"
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Item Analysis of efficiency and usefulness of top devices in noise barriers(2012) Diez, Itxasne; Fernandez, Pilar; Aspuru, Itziar; Tecnalia Research & Innovation; CALIDAD Y CONFORT AMBIENTALThe aim of the MAITE project "Transport infrastructure noise attenuation: design and system modelling of additional devices" was to design and evaluate the effectiveness of a new top device designed by TECNALIA. On the first step of the project it was carried out a comparison of the acoustic effect of different geometries using 2D Boundary Element method. Afterwards, the most effective design was evaluated according to the European specifications CEN/TS 1793-4. Those results were presented in INTERNOISE 2010. This paper presents results of insertion loss obtained by the "in situ" evaluation, based on the direct approach of ISO 10847:1997. The evaluation was carried out in a main road (BI-631) with the collaboration of the Provincial Government of Bizkaia, who facilitated the installation of a noise reducing device on top of an already installed noise barrier. It was proved that the top device reduces noise levels at some extent. Additionally, the paper analyses the usefulness of installing top devices. Therefore it identifies the situations where their installation could be interesting and it shows some practical examples to underline possible benefits achieved by using them. The intention is to open a discussion about the practical suitability of installing a top device.Item Noise barriers customized to abate non conventional noise sources(OAL-Osterreichischer Arbeitsring fur Larmbekampfung, 2013) Fernandez, Pilar; Diez, Itxasne; Eguiguren, Jose Luis; Aspuru, Itziar; CALIDAD Y CONFORT AMBIENTAL; Tecnalia Research & Innovation; SGNowadays, conventional noise barriers, built with different materials and designs, form a landscape very common on both sides of roads and railways. The fast growth of cities and the increasing awareness of people about noise, leads to define measures to reduce noise caused by other sources in urban areas. This paper presents two types of barriers, slightly different from those already commons. Their designs are customized to two types of sources: railway lines highly integrated in cities, and temporal events that are noisy, like works, concerts, political acts.... On one hand, it is already known that small barriers could be efficient to reduce railway noise. The challenge in the design of this barrier was not only acoustic, but also to comply with maintenance requirements. The design is still experimental and it is being checked with railway managers to find, if possible, common requirements of safety distances to track to allow works at the line, optimizing its acoustical efficiency. On the other hand, the barrier designed to reduce noise caused by works in the city, is a temporary display, easily movable and adaptable to different sources of noise in a work. It has awarded a patent, being still at experimental stage.