Analysis of acoustic aging of low noise road surfaces in Europe

The acoustic performance of road surfaces deteriorates with time. This study has gathered data from several countries in Europe on the age related performance of several types of road surfaces, mainly under highway and through road conditions. No data on urban roads are included. The shifts in spectral distribution is investigated in order to identify the cause and nature of the aging process. Statistical analysis of road type, surface type and traffic conditions revealed interesting relations that can be used to predict the service life of low noise surfaces under different conditions.
Special attention was given to the Scandinavian situation, where, due to the extended usage of studded tyres, deterioration processes differs strongly from main land Europe.