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却微乎其微，在英国安装的所有隔音屏障中，有75%仍然采用木栅栏的形式，其典型性能约为6dB，并且由于退化而使用寿命短。世卫组织的建议包括在《夜间噪音指南》中确定的极低噪音水平，即到2020年达到55分贝的临时目标和40分贝的最终目标。从这个角度来看，高铁的平均噪声水平平均为90dB(A)，这表明目前可用的解决方案不足以满足对强大的噪声控制解决方案日益增长的需求，也不足以实现2020年的目标。隔音屏障是公路和铁路部门的一项重要资产，其采购、安装和维护是一项重要的长期财政投资。研究需要的是人力资源管理人员在现场屏障测试性能方面拥有更好的产品，并更好地了解与其网络屏障的规划、采购和管理相关的信息，本项目的结果将寻求答案。该项目将提供一种基于“声学超材料”的隔音屏障技术的预生产原型，该技术专门用于减轻铁路噪音，重点是高速铁路。这是一个极具颠覆性的产品，在噪音缓解解决方案方面提供了一个阶段性的变化，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.