Acoustic Metamaterials for the Control of Railway Noise

尽管在过去的60年里，噪音显著增加，但隔音屏障技术的进步微乎其微，英国安装的所有隔音屏障中，75%仍然是木栅栏的形式，典型的性能约为6分贝，由于退化而寿命较短。世界卫生组织的建议包括夜间噪声指南中确定的非常低的噪声水平，这些水平是55分贝作为临时目标，40分贝作为2020年的最终目标。客观地说，高铁的平均噪声水平为90dB(A)，这表明目前可用的解决方案不足以满足日益增长的强劲噪声控制解决方案的需求，并不足以实现2020年的目标。噪声屏障是公路和铁路组织(HRO)的一项重要资产，而采购、安装和维护是一项重大的长期财务投资。研究需要HRO在现场屏障测试性能方面拥有更好的产品表现，并更好地了解与其网络沿线屏障的规划、采购和管理相关的信息，本项目的结果将寻求答案。该项目将提供基于声学超材料的前期生产原型，该技术专为缓解铁路噪音而设计，重点放在高速铁路上。这是一个极具颠覆性的产品，提供了噪音缓解解决方案的一步变化，进入一个成熟的全球市场，需要创新。

Despite the significant increase in noise over the past 60yrs, advancements in noise barrier technology have been minimal, with 75% of all noise barriers installed in the UK still in the form of timber fences with a typical performance of ~6dB and short lifespan due to degradation.The WHO recommendations include very low noise levels identified in the Night Noise Guidelines, these are 55 dB as an interim target and 40dB as an ultimate objective by 2020\. To put this in perspective the average noise levels for high-speed rail is on average \>90dB(A), indicating the currently available solutions are not adequate to meet the growing need for robust noise control solutions and to meet the 2020 target.Noise barriers are a significant asset for Highways and Railway Organisation's (HRO's) and procurement, installation and maintenance represent a significant long-term financial investment. The research need is for HRO's to have a better performing product in terms of in-situ barrier test performance and to be better informed in relation to the planning, procurement and management of barriers along their networks, which the outcomes of this Project will seek to answer.The Project will deliver a "works like, looks like" pre-production prototype of an "acoustic metamaterial" based noise barrier technology specifically designed to mitigate Railway noise, with focus on High Speed Rail.This is a highly disruptive product offering a step change in noise mitigation solutions, into a well established global marketplace, in need of innovation.