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National Cooperative Highway Research Program
RESEARCH PROJECT STATEMENT
Project 8-56, FY 2005

Truck Noise-Source Mapping
(Posted Date: 2/17/05)


BACKGROUND

Heavy trucks are significant contributors to overall traffic noise levels, and transportation agencies must better understand the location and relative levels of the principal noise sources (e.g., exhaust, mechanical, tire/pavement, and aerodynamic) on heavy vehicles in order to more successfully mitigate traffic noise impacts.

Typical measures used to mitigate highway traffic noise include noise barriers, land use planning, and insulation of structures. Some transportation agencies are investigating additional measures, such as quiet pavements. Newer acoustical measurement and mapping techniques such as beamforming show promise for isolating the location and extent of the primary noise sources emanating from heavy trucks. Some studies suggest that near-field acoustical holography is a good complement to beamforming for measurement and mapping of low-frequency sounds. Data obtained in this project could directly support a number of ongoing quiet pavement research studies, including the FHWA Quiet Pavement Pilot Project. The data will also yield information that could greatly enhance computer analysis of traffic noise impacts that are a part of environmental impact reports. Information from this project will guide decisions made at both a management level and a project design level.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to use acoustic measurement and noise-source mapping techniques to accurately identify, locate, and quantify the noise sources on typical commercial truck and tractor-semitrailer combinations operating in the U.S. roadway environment.

Accomplishment of the project objective will require the following tasks.

TASKS

Task descriptions are intended to provide a framework for conducting the research. The NCHRP is seeking the insights of proposers on how best to achieve the research objective. Proposers are expected to describe research plans that can realistically be accomplished within the constraints of available funds and contract time. Proposals must present the proposers' current thinking in sufficient detail to demonstrate their understanding of the problem and the soundness of their approach

Task 1. Conduct a critical analysis of domestic and international published literature, research in progress, and current practice on the basis of applicability, conclusiveness of findings, and usefulness for the analytical needs of this study. This effort should include a review of material related to all aspects of heavy truck noise sources, as well as best available acoustic measurement and noise-source mapping techniques for road, rail, aviation, and other transportation vehicles.

Task 2. Based on the Task 1 review, develop an experimental design for controlled tests to identify, locate, and quantify the noise sources on heavy trucks at highway speeds. The experiment should be structured in such a way that the results will be applicable to real-world vehicle and traffic conditions. It is expected that the experiment will use one or more acoustic measurement and noise-source mapping techniques and, within the constraints of the project budget and schedule, will control for factors such as the following (listed in priority order):
  • Pavement material and texture (including both dense- and open-graded asphalts and transversely tined Portland Cement Concrete);
  • Vehicle exhaust height (vertical vs. under frame);
  • Truck configuration (including at a minimum two loaded vehicles with different axle and trailer configurations)
  • Tire type/tread pattern;
  • Vehicle speed (e.g., ranges between 10 and 70 mph);
  • Steady vehicle speed (e.g., 60 mph) versus accelerating or decelerating (use of engine brakes);
  • Engine size;
  • Aerodynamic variations (e.g., "shrouded" versus open tractor designs); and
  • Vehicle exhaust condition (e.g., altered, detached, or poor condition).

At a minimum, the noise mapping should be done at the maximum overall A-weighted sound pressure level measured in decibels during pass-by. The output data should delineate the distribution of relative sound pressure levels (both unweighted and A-weighted) of the major truck noise point sources. Data should be presented both numerically and graphically using color contour maps.
Note: Proposers should explain their current thinking on the measurement and noise-source mapping methodologies that will be used. Proposers should also outline their plan for identifying sources of trucks and tires that will be used in the testing, and test site locations. If the results of the Task 1 literature review suggest that the prioritization of variables should be different tfrom that listed above, present this suggestion to the NCHRP for consideration.

Task 3. Conduct a proof-of-concept test of the proposed noise measurement systems and noise-mapping techniques.

Task 4. Submit an interim report, within 12 months, to document Tasks 1 through 3 for review by the NCHRP. The contractor will be expected to meet with the NCHRP approximately 1 month later. The contractor shall not begin work on the remaining tasks without NCHRP approval.

Task 5. Execute the testing plan as approved by the NCHRP.

Task 6. Document and analyze the results of the Task 5 tests to identify, locate, and quantify the noise point sources on heavy trucks.

Task 7. Summarize the key findings about the relative contributions of heavy truck noise sources in the context of variables studied in Task 5.

Task 8. Identify areas where further research and testing are needed to improve our ability to identify, locate, and quantify truck noise sources. These could include the investigation of additional variables or means of improving noise measurement and mapping techniques.

Task 9. Submit a final report that documents the entire research effort. In addition, provide a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the background, objectives, research method, results, applications, and benefits.


SPECIAL NOTES

A. Proposals shall include a task-by-task breakdown of labor hours for each staff member as shown in Figure 5 in the brochure, "Information and Instructions for Preparing Proposals" (http://trb.org/nchrp under "Current RFPs [Requests for Proposals]"). Proposals also shall include a breakdown of all costs (e.g., wages, indirect costs, travel, materials, and total) for each task.

B. NCHRP projects are intended to produce results that will be applied in practice, and proposals and the project final report must contain implementation plans for moving the results of the research into practice. Item 4(c), "Anticipated Research Results," in each proposal must include an Implementation Plan that describes activities to promote application of the product of this research. It is expected that the implementation plan will evolve during the project; however, proposals must describe, as a minimum, the following: (a) the "product" expected from the research, (b) the audience or "market" for this product, (c) a realistic assessment of impediments to successful implementation, (d) the institutions and individuals who might take leadership in applying the research product, (e) the activities necessary for successful implementation, (f) the criteria for judging the progress and consequences of implementation, and (g) identification of existing manuals and handbooks that might be impacted by the results of this research.

C. Item 5 in the proposal, "Qualifications of the Research Team," must include a section labeled "Disclosure." Information relevant to the NCHRP's need to ensure objectivity and to be aware of possible sources of significant financial or organizational conflict of interest in conducting the research must be presented in this section of the proposal. For example, under certain conditions, ownership of the proposing agency, other organizational relationships, or proprietary rights and interests could be perceived as jeopardizing an objective approach to the research effort, and proposers are asked to disclose any such circumstances and to explain how they will be accounted for in this study. If there are no issues related to objectivity, this should be stated.

D. The Research Plan, Item 4 of the proposal, shall be limited to no more than 20 pages.

E. No more than 12 months will be spent on Tasks 1 through 3.

F. The proposed research team must include members with demonstrated expertise in the areas of acoustical measurement and noise-source mapping techniques, as well as highway engineering and acoustical characteristics of heavy trucks, tires, and pavements.

Funds Available: $500,000

Contract time: 32 months (includes 1 month for NCHRP review and approval of the interim report and 3 months for NCHRP review and contractor revision of the final report)

Staff Responsibility: Christopher Hedges, (202) 334-1472 (E-mail chedges@nas.edu).



Proposals (20 single-bound copies) are due not later than 4:30 p.m. on April 26, 2005.

This is a firm deadline, and extensions simply are not granted. In order to be considered, all 20 copies of the agency's proposal accompanied by the executed, unmodified Liability Statement must be in our offices not later than the deadline shown, or they will be rejected.

Delivery Address:

PROPOSAL-NCHRP
ATTN: Dr. Robert J. Reilly
Director, Cooperative Research Programs
Transportation Research Board
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001


Liability Statement

The signature of an authorized representative of the proposing agency is required on the unaltered statement in order for the NCHRP to accept the agency's proposal for consideration. Proposals submitted without this executed and unaltered statement by the proposal deadline will be summarily rejected. An executed, unaltered statement indicates the agency's intent and ability to execute a contract that includes the provisions in the statement.

Here is a printable version of the Liability Statement (pdf). A free copy of the Adobe Acrobat PDF reader is available at http://www.adobe.com/.


General Notes

1. According to the provisions of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 21, which relates to nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs, all parties are hereby notified that the contract entered into pursuant to this announcement will be awarded without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability.

2. The essential features required in a proposal for research are detailed in the current NCHRP brochure entitled "Information and Instructions for Preparing Proposals." Proposals must be prepared according to this document, and attention is directed specifically to Section IV for mandatory requirements. Proposals that do not conform with these requirements will be rejected. This brochure is available here.

3. The Transportation Research Board encourages participation of small businesses, minority-owned firms, and women's business enterprises as contractors or subcontractors for NCHRP projects.

4. Proposals are evaluated by the NCHRP staff and a project panel consisting of individuals collectively very knowledgeable in the problem area. Selection of an agency is made only by the responsible panels considering the following factors: (1) the proposer's demonstrated understanding of the problem; (2) the merit of the proposed research approach and experiment design; (3) the experience, qualifications, and objectivity of the research team in the same or closely related problem area; (4) the plan for ensuring application of results; and (5) the adequacy of the facilities. The total funds available are made known in the project statement, and line items of the budget are examined to determine the reasonableness of the allocation of funds to the various tasks. If the proposed total cost exceeds the funds available, the proposal is rejected.

5. All proposals become the property of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program. Final disposition will be made according to the policies thereof, including the right to reject all proposals.


IMPORTANT NOTICE

Potential proposers should understand clearly that the research project described herein is tentative. The final content of the program depends on the level of funding made available through States' agreements for financial support of the NCHRP . Nevertheless, to be prepared to execute research contracts as soon as possible after sponsors' approvals, the NCHRP is assuming that the tentative program will become official in its entirety and is proceeding with requests for proposals and selections of research agencies.



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