Effect of speed fluctuations due to driving imperfections on road traffic noise emission

Abstract

Propagation of traffic noise in metro cities is a complex phenomenon. Since fluctuations in traffic flow are basic nature of a traffic stream, it can be studied by using Cellular Automata (CA). Braking tendencies among vehicles which reflect the driving imperfections affect the overall traffic flow. CA traffic flow model gives the wide description of stochastic nature of traffic flow. The present study reveals the influence of stochastic nature of traffic flow over traffic noise emission. Vehicles are classified into 7 types. To simulate traffic flow CA is used with simple updated rules for movement of vehicles. Stochastic CA is used for calculating flow, average speed and equivalent Sound Pressure Level (SPL) of traffic stream for various densities. Influence of speed fluctuations in continuous traffic streams over the noise emission level of different types of vehicles has been studied in conditions in India. A value of braking parameter p has been estimated for road conditions in India which is found suitable when compared with real observed data. © 2011 Institute of Noise Control Engineering.