Performance and modelling of transverse rumble strips on noise and vibration stimuli

Transverse rumble strips (TRS) are commonly used in reducing vehicle speed and increasing drivers’ alertness on roadway through optical, sound and vibration effects. However, when inappropriately designed, TRS sound and vibration may become too excessive, thus compromise road users’ comfort and annoy local residents who live adjacent to the roadway. This study aims to contribute to the knowledge that will be used to improve the optimisation of TRS cross-section design for road user’s comfort and sustainable living of the neighbourhood. The objectives of this study were to: classify TRS profiles and assess the noise annoyance response towards TRS noise; measure and model TRS roadside noise level and analyse the possible tyre-TRS interaction mechanisms that involved in the TRS roadside noise generation; evaluate and estimate vehicle in-cabin TRS sound and vibration; develop the optimum TRS cross section design for road users’ comfort. Site investigation and social survey study had been carried out to classify the type of TRS profile used on the roadway and to assess the noise annoyance response towards TRS noise experienced by neighbourhood. Traffic noise assessment and controlled pass-by method were carried out to evaluate and estimate roadside noise level due to TRS and to analyse the possible tyre-TRS vibration mechanisms that were involved in the generation of TRS noise. In-cabin sound and vibration measurements were conducted to evaluate incabin vibration and sound due to TRS. Weber’s Law was used to determine appropriate vibration to road user comfort, hence optimum TRS cross section design was proposed. The results indicated that three main types of TRS profile existed on the road namely; raised rumbler, middle overlap and multi-layer overlap. Generally, respondents were annoyed with TRS noise. TRS noise depended on the factor of traffic volume, speed, TRS profile and thickness. TRS vibration depended on the factor of vehicle speed and TRS thickness. Raised rumbler’s profile generated the highest noise as a result from air pumping tyre-pavement mechanism. TRS optimum cross section design was proposed to enhance TRS performance in providing appropriate vibration to road user

Evaluation of Noise Generated by Train Movement at Rail Near to Residential Areas – Case Study at Kluang, Johor.

Rail transportation is one of the largest transportations that is widely used in Malaysia. Therefore, many railways have been built in urban and rural areas to improve interstate connectivity in Malaysia. However, train noise generated from train movement can disturb the comfort of nearby residents that live near railways. This study was conducted nearby the residential area between the Kluang – Renggam rail line to investigate the noise level and compare the existing noise level with the guideline from the Department of Environment (DOE) and World Health Organization (WHO) limits. The measurement data was taken by using the Sound Level Meter (SLM) type of SLM-25 at three different locations with distance of 20 m, 30 m, and 55 m away from the train track during morning, noon, and evening. The result shows the maximum value is 102.6 dBA during the evening at point 1 with a distance of 20 m. The residential area at point 1 which is 20 m distance between rail track and point 2 with the distance of 30 m from the rail track was indicated exposed to train noise disturbance whereby the measurement data for each location was exceeded the permissible noise for DOE and WHO which is 60 dBA and 54 dBA. The result can show that the noise level was dependent on the distance of the receiver to the train track. A better method such as developed noise mapping and the questionnaire of annoyance level for the residential area can improve the findings on the effect of train noise in the future

Malaysian transverse rumble strips: a review and recommendations for practice

Transverse rumble strips (TRS) is a common choice to reduce vehicle speed and increase driver alertness on roadway. TRS is a series of marked (either flat or raised) transverse bars placed across the road in direction of traffic flow. It functions to assist driver to become aware through optical, vibration and audible effect thus encouraging drivers to reduce speed and increase their alertness in order to face any hazard that may exist ahead. Although often being used, in reality TRS usage in Malaysia still has some aspects that can be improved. The purpose of this paper is to critically review the definition of thermoplastic TRS, its effectiveness, standard guidelines in Malaysia, thermoplastic materials and colour and also to propose the recommendation in regard practice of TRS in order to increase its effectiveness. Besides the available literature source in the light of the latest published findings, personal interview have been done to several authorities which are headquarter and district public work department, local municipal and university regarding TRS application guidelines and practice in Malaysia. The authors synthesize the available findings on the TRS performance and standard guidelines to propose some recommendations for a better application practice of TRS in particular in Malaysia. The proposal of all the findings hopefully would be beneficial to authorities in improving the practices of TRS

Noise produced by transverse rumble strips: a case study on rural roadways

Transverse roadway strips (TRS) are a common approach used by the local authorities in Malaysia for the purpose of road safety on rural roadway. However, there were complaints made by residents about the excessive noise pollution produced by TRS. The objective of this study was to evaluate the external noise produced by the application of TRS, to evaluate and to anticipate the annoyance response due to installation of TRS. The investigations were carried out through the changes of noise level indices, estimation of the annoyance response using the traffic noise index (TNI) and anticipation of resisident response anoyance. Measurements of the external noise level produced by the TRS were taken for two hours at two location with and without TRS. Results showed that TRS increased the equivalent noise level, LAeq1hour, L101hour and L901hour by as much as 14 dB(A), 16 dB(A) and 9 dB(A) respectively. TNI values also increased as much by as 42% and exceeded the suggested value for planning purposes of 74 dB (A) for 3% annoyance from the social surveys. This investigation shows that TRS noise has a very strong impact on the community and this was the reason behind the complaints made by people living in study area

Exterior Noise Due to Interaction of Tire-Thermoplastic Transverse Rumble Strips

Transverse rumble strips (TRS) are a common choice to reduce vehicle speed and increase driver alertness on roadways. However, there is a potential trade-off using them on rural roadway due to the noise problem created when vehicles go over the strips. The present study investigated the noise level, spectral analysis and the possible noise generation mechanism when the TRS hit by a vehicle. Ten-raised-rumbler (RR) and three-layer-overlapped (TLO) were selected in this study as they have received complaints from the public. Results showed that RR generated relatively higher noise and impulse at low speed, and increased sound level in each octave band. Based on these results, RR may irritate human ears even when the vehicle travels at low speed. It was found that RR increased all noise generation mechanism of tire-pavement interaction whilst for the TLO increased structural resonance, sidewall and surface texture vibration

Exterior Noise Due to Interaction of Tire-Thermoplastic Transverse Rumble Strips

Transverse rumble strips (TRS) are a common choice to reduce vehicle speed and increase driver alertness on roadways. However, there is a potential trade-off using them on rural roadway due to the noise problem created when vehicles go over the strips. The present study investigated the noise level, spectral analysis and the possible noise generation mechanism when the TRS hit by a vehicle. Ten-raised-rumbler (RR) and three-layer-overlapped (TLO) were selected in this study as they have received complaints from the public. Results showed that RR generated relatively higher noise and impulse at low speed, and increased sound level in each octave band. Based on these results, RR may irritate human ears even when the vehicle travels at low speed. It was found that RR increased all noise generation mechanism of tire-pavement interaction whilst for the TLO increased structural resonance, sidewall and surface texture vibration

Evaluation of external noise produced by transverse rumble strips on rural roadways

Transverse rumble strips (TRS) are widely used by local authority in Malaysia to reduce vehicle speed and alert drivers to any changes on the road. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anticipated community reaction due to the external noise produced by the TRS. The evaluations were carried out through the noise levels measurement, calculation of the TNI and anticipated community response analysis. Measurements of noise level were taken at two locations of a rural roadway that have received complaints from the public i.e Kampung Pengkalan Raja (KPR) and Kilometer 52 (KM52) of Johor Bahru-Pontia n federal road, in Pontian District, Johor. Results showed that TRS can increase the level of traffic noise, TNI values, and annoyance response in community. TNI values of 126dB(A) and 1 19dB(A) for KPR and KM52, respectively were exceeded suggested level of TNI for planning purpose of 74 dB (A) for 3% annoyance from the social surveys. Anticipated annoyance response analysis also indicated that resident in both locations received strong to very strong impact that can lead to vigorous community reaction and this was in agreement with the real reaction from t he community

Exterior noise due to interaction of tyre-thermoplastic transverse rumble strips

Transverse rumble strips (TRS) are a common choice to reduce vehicle speed and increase driver alertness on roadways. However, there is a potential trade-o� using them on rural roadway due to the noise problem created when vehicles go over the strips. The present study investigated the noise level, spectral analysis, and the possible noise generation mechanism when the TRS is hit by a vehicle. Ten-raised-rumbler (RR) and three-layer-overlapped (TLO) TRS were selected in this study as they have received complaints from the public. Results showed that RR generated a relatively higher noise and impulse at a low speed, and increased sound level in each octave band. Based on these results, RR may irritate human ears even when the vehicle travels at a low speed. It was found that RR increased all noise generation mechanisms of tyre-pavement interaction whilst TLO increased structural resonance, sidewall and surface texture vibration

The effectiveness of new 3D visual effect speed hump in speed reduction

Intersection is a function of parsing and altering traffic movement. The safety of vehicle manoeuvres at the junction depends on the minimum speed. The purpose of this study is to identify the effectiveness of the usage of temporary speed hump (3D visual effect) to reduce vehicles speed approaching a Priority Junction. This study was conducted at three (3) different residential locations namely Taman Murni, Kampung Merdeka and Taman Bahagia Koperasi in Batu Pahat area. These intersections were chosen because it connects one housing area to another and acts as a short-pass to a destination. Based on the observational activity, there were some traffic conflicting and potential for accidents at the intersection as well. The speed data were collected using laser guns and filled into special forms including date, location, weather, start and end time of observation and also the category of vehicles passed through the intersection. A hypothesis test was conduct to analyze the vehicle speed data before and after installation of the temporary a new 3D visual effect of speed hump. The results were analyzed using the Chi-Square test in Statistical Package for Science Social (SPSS) software. The Chi-Square analysis demonstrates that the effectiveness of using temporary a new 3D visual effect of speed hump is significant statistically (p<0.05, χ2== 291.575). Majority vehicles (74%) were complied with speed limit when approaching intersection compared to 26% of vehicles who do not to do so. In addition, there was decline in the number of uninterrupted vehicles can be seen after parking traffic. Therefore, the study confirmed that drivers who speeding over the speed limit zones before approaching the intersection might be intervened after the installation of the new 3D visual effect of speed hump

Evaluation of ground vibration resulting from a heavy vehicle passing over transverse rumble strips : a case study in Kluang Road FT050

The transverse rumble strip (TRS) is one of the methods used to improve the driver's alertness to its driving and reduce their speed. However, the presence of a TRS causes unevenness on the road surface and may result in ground vibration when heavy vehicles passes it. This ground vibration may cause discomfort to the people living adjacent to the road. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate the level of ground vibration resulting from heavy vehicles passing over TRS especially on typical federal road in Malaysia which contains high percentage of fast-moving heavy vehicles. Ground vibration assessment study was conducted at federal road of Kluang-Batu Pahat Road (FT050) by using existing heavy vehicles in the traffic stream as study samples. ICP accelerometer and computer software Dewesoft7 have been used to measure and analyse the level of vibration generated. The results indicate heavy vehicles at a speed of 50 km/h, 33 km/h and 24km/h generate ground vibration level of 1.24 mm/s, 2.30 mm/s and 0.76 mm/s respectively. Other factors such as the weight of the heavy vehicles may involve in ground vibration generation mechanism as the results shown that there was no direct correlation between vehicle speed and level of ground vibration. All the generated ground vibration levels were found to be within the allowable limit set by Department of Environment Malaysia (DOE) standard guidelines