Acoustical longevity and durability of pavements

The tire-pavement interface has been shown to be the primary source of traffic noise when vehicles travel faster than about 30 mph (48 kph). Consequently, application of quieter pavement results in lower noise levels for drivers and for those living and working near a roadway. There is some hesitation by US regulatory agencies over using quieter pavement surfaces as noise mitigation on highways due to concern over changes in acoustical properties over time. To address this concern, long-term pavement research has been conducted within four robust studies in California and Arizona, comprising a total of seven flexible and six rigid pavement surfaces. Acoustical performance of these surfaces was measured several times per year over periods of 10 to 16 years. In addition to the four primary long-term pavement studies, several smaller studies have included repeat measurements of pavements over time. This article summarizes and compares the results of the four long-term pavement studies and the smaller repeat measurement studies.