Time-domain simulations of low-height porous noise barriers with periodically spaced scattering inclusions

Paper in proceeding, 2014

In this work we investigate the possibility to create a noise reducing device by embedding periodically spaced scattering units into a porous matrix. A numerical study based on the Finite-Difference Time- Domain method is therefore performed. The porous matrix is modelled by the Zwikker and Kosten phenomenological porous rigid-frame model, and scattering units are considered to be acoustically rigid. For simplicity a two-dimensional computational domain and a homogeneous atmosphere has been assumed. We focus on low-height noise barriers with the intention to reduce traffic noise along- side pavements, e.g. for pedestrians and cyclists. A number of porous barriers with acoustically rigid inclusions are investigated and compared against porous barriers without scattering units added. In addition, the reduction is tested against a simple acoustically rigid screen.