ACOUSTIC SOURCE ASSESSMENT USING SOURCE BREAKDOWN

Knowledge of vehicle source heights is necessary for noise barrier design, but currently, no reliable method exists to measure this parameter. This study involves the development of system to evaluate source heights using a method known as the source breakdown technique. The first phase of this study consists of the demonstration of the source breakdown technique on loudspeakers in an anechoic chamber. The second phase involves tests outdoors using loudspeakers in the presence of ground reflections. The third phase consists of an assessment of sources on a single vehicle. In the first two phases, source breakdown results are compared with actual measurements for verification. Noise and source mislocation errors are considered, as well as methods to reduce their detrimental effects.