This synthesis will be of interest to highway environmental engineers, noise analysts, design engineers, maintenance personnel, planners, administrators, and others responsible for the design, selection, and maintenance of noise barriers or other traffic noise abatement policies. Information is provided on current state practice associated with noise abatement techniques and on the various products that are used. This synthesis describes the state of the art with respect to traffic noise abatement procedures, especially noise barriers. This report of the Transportation Research Board provides information on the design, construction and maintenance of both new (Type I) and retrofit ( Type II) noise barriers. The design elements that are addressed include materials, the selection process, service life, foundations, drainage, aesthetics, and safety. The construction section covers technical problems related to surface effects, durability, snow damage, and costs. Other noise abatement measures such as insulation and highway design alternatives are also addressed. The issue of public demand and availability funding is included, and recommendations are made to improve the situation.

This report describes development of standards for noise barrier systems using recycled plastic lumber for wall sheathing, structurally supported by wood or steel frames, with cast-in-place piers proposed for foundations. Aesthetics are addressed by providing options for sheathing color, frame type, and frame arrangement. The standards developed include design tables for selection of standardized member sizes, column spacings, and foundation dimensions. Also included are tables for estimating materials requirements and costs of selected designs, along with notes on system specifications and construction. The proposed systems are cost-competitive with current systems, and may have long-term economic benefits as a result of greater durability, minimal maintenance, and low life-cycle cost.

A geopolymer is a solid aluminosilicate material usually formed by alkali hydroxide or alkali silicate activation of a solid precursor such as coal fly ash, calcined clay and/or metallurgical slag. Today the primary application of geopolymer technology is in the development of reduced-CO2 construction materials as an alternative to Portland-based cements. Geopolymers: structure, processing, properties and industrial applications reviews the latest research on and applications of these highly important materials.Part one discusses the synthesis and characterisation of geopolymers with chapters on topics such as fly ash chemistry and inorganic polymer cements, geopolymer precursor design, nanostructure/microstructure of metakaolin and fly ash geopolymers, and geopolymer synthesis kinetics. Part two reviews the manufacture and properties of geopolymers including accelerated ageing of geopolymers, chemical durability, engineering properties of geopolymer concrete, producing fire and heat-resistant geopolymers, utilisation of mining wastes and thermal properties of geopolymers. Part three covers applications of geopolymers with coverage of topics such as commercialisation of geopolymers for construction, as well as applications in waste management.With its distinguished editors and international team of contributors, Geopolymers: structure, processing, properties and industrial applications is a standard reference for scientists and engineers in industry and the academic sector, including practitioners in the cement and concrete industry as well as those involved in waste reduction and disposal. - Discusses the synthesis and characterisation of geopolymers with chapters covering fly ash chemistry and inorganic polymer cements - Assesses the application and commercialisation of geopolymers with particular focus on applications in waste management - Reviews the latest research on and applications of these highly important materials

Environmental Noise Barriers is a unique one-stop reference for practitioners, whether acoustical engineers, landscape architects, or manufacturers, and for highways departments in local and central authorities. This extensively revised new edition is updated in line with UK and EU legislation and international provision of barriers.

The completion of the traffic noise barrier project HAM-71-11.44 in Ohio was met with strong reaction from those living in the project area. Many residents complained that noise levels had actually increased at their location as a result of the project, while others claimed that levels had decreased where they lived. The preliminary assessment project was initiated to determine the nature and extent of any problems that had occurred with the construction of the noise barriers. A two-pronged approach was used for the study. First, a survey of residents was conducted to characterize the residents' perception of changes in noise levels due to construction of the barriers. Second, a physical investigation of the project area was made, which included roadway and barrier geometries, traffic characteristics before and after barrier construction, and acoustical measurements to characterize the noise environment in the project area.