BEM simulations of diffraction-optimized noise barriers

Traffic-related noise has been increasing steadily. Noise barriers are one of the main tools used for noise abatement, and there is still potential for optimization and improvement of the acoustic performance by employing non-standard designs. Simulations are a costefficient tool for predicting and planning new noise barrier solutions. The following paper studies some non-standard barrier shapes with particular focus on the formation of a virtual soft-plane for some frequencies. Destructive diffraction from the top edge of the barrier is used in order to optimize the shielding effect of the barrier. Through the use of 2D-BEM simulations different barrier profiles and their effect of shielding are studied. The focus is to obtain useful shielding in the far-field region with intelligent shapes thus permitting a reduction of the barrier height.