157

NOISE R E D U C T I O N BY SCREENS*

Z. M A E K A W A

Faculty o f Engineering, Kobe University (Japan)

(Received: 1 J a n u a r y , 1968)

SUMMARY

This paper presents experimental data on the diffraction of sound round a semi-infinite
plane screen in a free field and describes a method for calculating the shielding effect
of a real screen employed for the purpose of noise reduction, with the assistance of a
single graph and without the aid of a computer.

1. INTRODUCTION

In controlling noise in the open air it is very important to interpose screens,

buildings or other large rigid barriers between a sound source and receivers. Such
barriers produce an acoustic shielding effect. However, there was no reliable
method of designing a screen for the purpose of noise reduction, since it is difficult
to calculate the diffraction of sound accurately.
Originally, the theory of diffraction was developed in optics, and was later
applied to all diffraction phenomena in acoustics and other wave motions. The
diffraction problem, however, is one of the most difficult problems in optics, and
even now its rigorous solution is being sought by mathematicians. It is desirable,
for most cases of practical noise control, that the diffraction problems are treated
by a simplified and approximate method.
Noise reduction by a screen has been calculated by an approximate theory of
optical diffraction under simple conditions. Unfortunately, many experimental data
were not available to verify the theoretical computations for a wide range of
geometry and a wide range of frequencies.

* A thesis u n d e r the s a m e title was reported at the Specialized C o n f e r e n c e s in the 5th International
Congress on Acoustics at Liege, 1965.

Applied Acoustics--Elsevier Publishing Company Ltd., England--Printed in Great Britain

 158 z. MAEKAWA

This paper presents experimental data of sound diffraction with a semi-infinite

plane screen in a free field, and describes a method for calculating the shielding
effect of a real screen for the noise reduction, with only one chart and without
a computer.

2. PREVIOUS RELATED STUDIES

The exact solution for the diffraction of a plane wave by a semi-infinite plane
screen was given by Sommerfeld (1896). Redfearn 1 gave an approximate solution
of the same form for diffraction, when the source is at a certain distance from the
screen.

60 1180° ol co
175 o
I
50 -150 °
--120 ,~
90 °
-- 30 o
g -_ i 0 ~,
---50

i°

2O

IO
_0 o

I I I
0"I I I0 I00 iO00
He/ k

Fig. 1. Calculated value o f s o u n d a t t e n u a t i o n by a semi-infinite screen. 1 T h e vertical scale is

relative to p r o p a g a t i o n in free space. S is the s o u n d source. P is the receiver. He is t h e effective
height o f t h e screen. 2 is t h e wavelength o f the s o u n d wave. tz is the angle into t h e " s h a d o w " .

Fig. 1 shows the attenuation of intensity at any point in the "shadow" due to the
screen over the intensity at the same point due to the original spherical wave with-
out the screen.
By applying Kirchhoff's diffraction theory, 2 which embodies the basic idea of
the Huygens-Fresnel principle, to the semi-infinite screen, the sound attenuation
by the screen after some approximations, is obtained as follows:

[Att.]~. = -- 10 loglo ~ [ {~ -- Cto~}2 + {~ - Stm}2] dB (l)

 NOISE REDUCTION BY SCREENS 159

where [Att.].~ denotes the diffraction of a half-infinite open space. C~v~ and Scw are
Fresnel's integrals for variable v and

v= H ./2(1 (2)

where H e is the effective height of the screen, and a and b are the distances from the
screen to the source and the receiver, respectively.
Fig. 2 shows the values calculated from eqns. (1) and (2). Depending on whether
v > 0 or v < 0, the point of observation P lies in the illuminated region or in the
geometrical shadow, respectively.

2,0

J
J

o " v i ' v " ~ "~v "X /

-4 -3 -2 -I 0 I 2 3 4 5 6

Fig. 2. Calculated value of sound attenuation by a semi-infinite screen by Kirchhoff's diffraction

theory. The vertical scale is relative to propagation in free space.

Feher 3 calculated the expected noise reduction by a screen of infinite lateral

extent using the optical-diffraction theory, when both the source and the receiver
are on the ground, and gave the curve shown in Fig. 3. This chart was introduced
by Beranek 4 with the logarithmic scale of the variable N.
Previous studies reviewed above had never been concerned with the reflections
f r o m the ground. Fig. 3 shows the noise reduction under conditions such that the
source and the receiver are on the ground so as to disregard sound reflection from
the ground. In real conditions, since the receiving point is the position of human
ears or a building window, the height from the ground can not normally be neglec-
ted, even if the source is close to the ground.

Applied Acoustics, I (1968) 1 5 7 - 1 7 3

160 z. MAEKAWA

A new m e t h o d for calculating noise r e d u c t i o n by screens, to a g o o d a p p r o x i m a -

tion, will n o w be presented. It deals not only with diffraction p h e n o m e n a but also
with reflections f r o m the ground. A screen or a solid fence o f infinite lateral extent
on the g r o u n d is considered first, and a screen o f finite size is then described.

25
' I
i !

20

15
/
OBSERVER

'°/ ~2
I
.i
I

5 IO /y 15

Fig. 3. Calculated value of sound attenuation by a screen of infinite lateral extent when a source
and a receiver arc on the ground, by Fcber. 3 The vertical scale is relative to propagation without
the screen. Sound is attenuated by a wall of height h above the line of sight between sound source
and observer.

3. ATTENUATION D U E T O T H E S E M I - I N F I N I T E S C R E E N I N FREE S P A C E

A t first, the a u t h o r measured the diffraction with a thin rigid screen in the test
r o o m . T h e pulsed t o n e used was o f sufficiently s h o r t d u r a t i o n to allow the signal
to be distinguished f r o m the delayed reflected sound, so t h a t t h e r e was no influence
o f the o t h e r b o u n d a r y . This is satisfactory for the experimental semi-infinite screen
in free space.
T h e s o u n d pressure levels at m a n y points in the s h a d o w zone o f the screen were
m e a s u r e d for a wide range o f frequencies and for a wide variety of geometries. All
the results are shown a p p r o x i m a t e l y by one curve o f a t t e n u a t i o n against F r e s n e l ' s
 NOISE R E D U C T I O N BY SCREENS 161

zone n u m b e r N o f the screen, in Fig. 4. The variable N is given by

N = _2 6 (3)
2
where 6 is the p a t h difference f r o m S to P with a n d w i t h o u t the screen. It is the m o s t
simple a n d reliable m e t h o d , o f m a n y , for calculating s o u n d diffraction with the best
approximation.
These results generally have values lower by a few dB t h a n t h o s e o f K i r c h h o f f ' s
theory, from Fig. 2, a l t h o u g h they a r e in g o o d a g r e e m e n t with those o f R e d f e a r n ' s

2 5 0 5 2 4 6 8 2 4 6 8 2 4 68
-0.3-0.1 -0.01 0 . 0 ! 0.1 1 2 10 100
~- ":X$

Fig. 4. Sound attenuation by a semi-infinite screen in free space. Horizontal scale, logarithmic
scale in the region of N > 1, adjusted so that the experimental curve becomes a straight solid line
in the region of N < 1. Depending on whether N > 0 or N < 0, the receiving point P lies in the
illuminated region or in the geometrical shadow, respectively. Attenuation is relative to propaga-
tion in free space. , Redfearn's theory: ~ , Maekawa's work; , Kirchhoff's
theory; o, experimental value measured by pulsed tone.

theory, from Fig. 1. The abscissa o f Fig. 4 was a d j u s t e d so t h a t the e x p e r i m e n t a l

curve b e c a m e a straight line. This is for convenience in using this figure as a design
chart.
W h e n the receiving p o i n t is far e n o u g h from the g r o u n d to neglect the effect o f

Applied Acoustics, 1 0968) 157-173

162 z. MAEKAWA

the reflected sound, Fig. 4 is very useful to estimate noise reduction by the barrier
with more reasonable accuracy and with simpler processes than those used for
Figs. 1, 2 or 3.
The variable N is calculated with the value of 6, which may be simply obtained by
geometry or by drawing the figure to a reduced scale.

4. DESIGN METHOD FOR A PLANE WALL OF INFINITE LATERAL EXTENT ON THE GROUND,
FOR NOISE REDUCTION

Let us consider how to predict the sound pressure level at the receiving point P, in
Fig. 5, after the long wall WO has been erected on the ground, between the sound
source S and P. The shorter the distance between S and W the greater the decrease
in sound level. The prediction process is as follows:
(1) The sound level L o at the point O, the top of the wall, is measured by a sound-
level meter. This value is the reference value of the sound level at any point in the
shadow zone of the wall.

////

Fig. 5. Section of the long wall between a s o u n d source S a nd a receiving poi nt P.

(2) The attenuation, denoted by L~ dB, of the sound arriving directly at the
receiving point P after diffraction at the top of the wall, is obtained from Fig. 4,
after calculating the variable Na = 61.2/2 with the value of

31 = (SO + O P - dl)
obtained by drawing or computing.
(3) The effect of ground reflection is calculated by applying the same method for
a point P', the image of the receiving point P, assuming perfect specular reflection
on the ground. The attenuation L2 dB of the sound at P' is obtained from Fig. 4,
with the variable N 2 = 3 2 .2/2, where 32 = (SO + OP -- d2).
 NOISE R E D U C T I O N BY SCREENS 163

(4) The sound energies of - L 1 dB and - - L 2 dB are added together, paying

attention to the fact that they are negative values, and the sum is denoted by L 3 dB.
It is very convenient to use Fig. 6 for this superposition. The phases of the two
sounds should be neglected, because both are noises, according to the results of the
other experiments, s
(5) The sound level L at the point P after erection of the wall is obtained by the
following formulae:
When S is a point sound source,

L = ( Lo -- 20 loglo ~-~ d,) - L 3 dB (4)

and when S is a section of a line source, i.e., highway, etc.,

L = Lo - l0 lOglo SO - L3 dB. (5)

3,, r
"X,
E

O
T O 2 4 6 8 I0 12

LI- L2 (dB)
Fig. 6. Chart for addition of two sound energies L1 dB and L2 dB (L1 > L2).

(6) The sound level can be calculated, by the method mentioned above, at any
point in the shadow zone of the wall. The shielding effect of the wall, however, must
be obtained by the expression (Lp - L) dB, where Lp is the measured value of the
sound level at the point P when the wall is absent. Only when the sound source is
omni-directional, the shielding effect (Lp - L) is equal to La, and it is variable
owing to the directional characteristics of the sound source.
(7) At the beginning of this calculation, when the position of the point 0 is
determined, it is desirable that the vertical sound level distribution along the line
W O is measured as high as possible, since the position of O must be higher than the
height of the point of m a x i m u m sound level at the plane of the wall. This explains
why the limiting condition for application of this calculation is that the sound
pressure on the vertical line above the screen decays gradually away from the top of
the wall.

Applied Acoustics, 1 (1968) 157-173

164 z. MAEKAWA

5. EXAMPLE OF THE C A L C U L A T I O N A N D T H E RESULTS OF MEASUREMENT FOR A L O N G

WALL

As shown in Fig. 7, the sound source S is located at a height of 1 meter above

the ground, 2 meters distant from the 2-meters-high concrete wall. Let us calculate
the sound level at the receiving points P~, Pz, P3, and P4, when each point is 4
meters inside the wall and 1, 2, 3, and 4 meters, respectively, above the ground.
There may be any difference between the ground levels on both sides of the wall.
All calculations are shown in Table 1.

J'94m

0 p••3 2

T
2roTs
__l_l 0.3m
ilIIII/
p s

L_ I
V 2rn

Fig. 7. Sectionof wall and locations of points for calculations and measurements.

The numbers shown in the last line of Table 1 are the sound levels at each
receiving point relative to the sound pressure at the point O on the top of the wall.
From a practical point of view, it seems to be that the effect of ground reflection
is negligible at a receiving point higher than 2 meters from the ground, in the
conditions of Table 1. These calculated values are compared with measured values
in Fig. 8.
 NOISE REDUCTION BY SCREENS 165

I~ uJe
-_=

o,3 /

o /
/ ._ . .o
/
/ I_~
g

/
/
/
/
e-.
E _~.~
/
/
/
/ ,j
/ ..~ e-

I , I/ , I , Ot...~_ , I .o o O

o
_:.'~

I I [ I I I I I [ [
o~'~

o.~

¢M
I t I i I t I i [ i
"--0~}
~e"
~~-~
•.= ~ . . ~

m
I i I i I I I l I i
o~
O~

o~
0 <
0

o . . - ,N
-
0 0 '~'-

0
tc)
@d
•
I i I i I ¢ I ~ i ~0

{w) q

Applied Acoustics. 1 (1968) 157-173

166 z. MAEKAWA

Fig. 9 s h o w s o t h e r results o f t h e e x p e r i m e n t for the h o r i z o n t a l d i s t r i b u t i o n s o f

s o u n d level in t h e s h a d o w z o n e o f the s a m e wall as t h a t s h o w n in Fig. 7.

Distance from screen (m)

0o 2 4 6 8 JO 12 14 16
1 l I I I [ i I 250 c/s

'°t
2O

0 I I I r i I i I
Without

With screen
screen

500 c/s

2O

0 r I I r I I I I Ikc

2O
g

i ~ 1 i ] F r l 2kc

20

3O

O~- i l I I I I t r 4 kc

~Oi ~ ' ~ ~ ~ 1,13

octave
bond

i -
2m

Fig. 9. Sound level distribution on the horizontal in the shadow zone of the wall.
Vertical scale and curves are the same as horizontal scale and curves in Fig. 8.
 NOISE REDUCTION BY SCREENS 167

TABLE 1
CALCULATIONSOF THE SOUND LEVEL AT FOUR POINTS IN THE SHADOWZONE OF A WALL SHOWN IN
FIG. 7
P1 P2 P3 P4
No.
S~P1 S-->PI" S--->P2 S--*'P2" S'--~'P3 S---~'P3" S--+P4 S..-~p4"
1 SO (cm) 220 226 215 228 215 229 215 230
2 OP 411 485 410 547 428 620 468 700
3 SO ÷ OP 631 711 625 775 643 849 683 930
4 d 600 625 613 657 642 704 683 762
5 6 31 86 12 118 1 145 0 168
At 1000 c/s(2 = 34 cm)
2
6 N = ~fl 1"81 5"05 0"70 6"95 0-06 8"5 0 9"9
7 Attenuation L1 L2 L1 L2 L1 L2 LI L2
(Fig. 4) (dB) 15'5 20-0 12.0 21.3 7.0 22.2 5 22"9
8 L3 (dB) 14'2 11"5 6.9 4-9
dl
9 Ldl = 2 0 log 8'8 9-0 9.4 10"2
10 (Ldl +L3) (dB) 23.0 20-5 16.3 15.1

I n Figs. 8 a n d 9, t h e m e a s u r e d c u r v e s u s i n g t h e wall s h o w g o o d a g r e e m e n t w i t h
t h e c a l c u l a t e d values. I t is c l e a r t h a t t h e s o u n d level d i s t r i b u t i o n in t h e s h a d o w
z o n e o f t h e w a l l c a n be p r e d i c t e d by t h e s i m p l e c a l c u l a t i o n m e n t i o n e d a b o v e . *

6. CALCULATION FOR THE FINITE-SIZE SCREEN

I n g e n e r a l , e v e n i f a wall o r s c r e e n has a shape, t h e c a l c u l a t e d s o u n d level in t h e

s h a d o w z o n e o f t h e w a l l o r s c r e e n m u s t i n t e g r a t e all c o n t r i b u t i o n s f r o m t h e Open
surface.
N o w , in t h e s i m p l e case, if t h e l e n g t h o f t h e s e m i - i n f i n i t e screen in free s p a c e is
l i m i t e d o n b o t h sides, as s h o w n in Fig. 10, t h e o p e n s u r f a c e s h o u l d be d i v i d e d i n t o
t h r e e z o n e s [A], [B] a n d [C]. Z o n e [A] is t h e n a half-infinite e m p t y p l a n e , a n d b o t h
[B] a n d [C] a r e q u a r t e r - i n f i n i t e zones.

[A]
X 01 X I

[BI SP [C ]

X"
Fig. 10. Limited semi-infinite screen.
* However, the measured curves without the wall do not agree with the dash-dotted lines, since
both the directional characteristics of the source and the effects of the ground reflection were
neglected in the calculation, notwithstanding the reflex-horn loudspeaker source was located above
the ground.

Applied Acoustics, 1 0968) 157-173

168 z. MAEKAWA

The contribution of a half-infinite open surface can be obtained from eqn. (1)
and Fig. 4. Also the contribution of a quarter-infinite open surface can be estimated
by the formula derived from Kirchhoff's diffraction theory. The attenuation of
diffracted sound only by a quarter-infinite open surface, denoted by [Att.], is
therefore:
[Att.]~ ---- -lOlog,o~E{~- C(,, I
2 + tl,~-- S,,, I
21

_,0,og,o + dB. (6)

Both the first and second terms of this equation are the same as in eqn. (l),
i.e. the attenuation by a quarter-infinite open surface is a sum of the attenuation
values of two semi-infinite screens in free space. These values, of course, are easily
obtained from Fig. 4, where the experimental curve (solid line) is more reliable than
the theoretical curve (dotted line).
The contribution of each divided zone to the sound level at the receiving point
should be superposed according to its energy, neglecting its phase since it is a noise.
Similarly, the sound waves reflected from the ground were calculated at the point
P', the image of the receiving point shown in Fig. 1 l, considering the specular
reflection of the ground. The sound energy at the receiving point and that at the
image of the point should then be added together. Fig. 6 is very useful for calcula-
ting these total energies.
X'

S Ot

/ \[ / ~'/ " "-. \ I "~

- "" "-. '

Fig. 11. Propagation paths around the finite size s c r e e n .

 NOISE R E D U C T I O N BY SCREENS 169

7. E X A M P L E OF T H E C A L C U L A T I O N A N D T H E RESULTS OF M E A S U R E M E N T F O R A
FINITE-SIZE SCREEN

The calculation and measurements of the sound levels were performed in the
shadow zone of a finite-size screen, shown in Fig. 12. The receiving points were
moved along the horizontal and vertical lines, parallel to the screen, and the sound
pressure levels in 1/3-octave band noises, radiating from an omni-directional
loudspeaker, were recorded.

-JF-- Q SOURCE

E
,o
"i / SCREEN

/O lrn 2
/
/
--E //
/
l // / / V3 PLAN

_ _ ~ _ ~ L_. ~ _ _ _ ~ _ _ ~ _ _ ~ _ ~ ~__~__ ~ L_~H 2

O lrn 2m 3m

V V2
SCREEN ~,
_ _ _ _ __ m
-o.-- H 1
V~::
"!!! i"• . :TI"""" ")::
SOURCE . : ~,
V4
,o E --P-H 2
d
l
I ::i:.::: :~l::O ..... ~: :il
+ I/III/11111
,-- I" 2 8 m " I ELEVATION

Fig. 12. Finite-size screen, and the locations of calculated and measured sound level distributions
which are shown in Fig. 13.

For the calculation, the open surface is divided into three zones [A], [B], and [C]
as shown in Fig. 10. The screen can then be regarded as a semi-infinite belt under
the ground, since the effects on the ground reflection are calculated separately. In
general, SP is not perpendicular to the screen. However, it is not necessary to
consider the effects of this incident angle, according to the results of the other
experimental studies 6 summarized in this paper.
The contribution of each divided zone is calculated independently in relation to
the sound levels at the point O1, 0 2 or O3 on the edges of the screen, connecting
S to P by the shortest paths, as in Fig. 11. The calculation is as follows:

Applied Acoustics, I (1968) 157-173

170 z. MAEKAWA

(1) In order to obtain the contribution of zone [A], denoted by LA, after cal-
culating N1 = 312/2 with the value of 31 = (SO1 + O I P - SP), the value of
attenuation denoted by [N1] is given by Fig. 4. Then the value of L A is obtained as
follows:
LA = 201Oglo \(SO,'~
- - ~ - ] _ [N1]dB

since the sound level at the point O1 is 0 dB.

(2) In order to obtain the contribution of zone [B], denoted by LB, after calcula-
ting N 2 in the same way, the value of attenuation [N2] is given by Fig. 4. The value
of attenuation caused by the edge of XX', denoted by [ - N ~ ] , is also given by the
same Fig. 4. Then the value of LB from eqn. (4) is given by:

LB = 20 loglo \(SO2~
SP / _ {tN2] + t - N l ] } d B

related to the sound level at 02.

(3) Similarly, for zone [C], the value of Lc is given as follows:
(SO3) _
Lc = 20 log10 \-g-~-/ {[Na] + [ - N 1 ] } dB

related to the sound level at O a.

(4) The diffracted direct sound at the receiving point, neglecting the ground, is
the superposition of LA, LB and Lc. The superposition, of course, is addition of
these three energies, since they are noises. Fig. 6 can also be applied to add these
values individually and conveniently. Therefore, the values of LA, L B and Lc must
be shown with a common reference value after the sound levels at 01, 0 2 and 0 3
are measured.
In the case of the experiment shown in Fig. 12, the sound level distributions at
the locations of the edges H 1, V 1 and V 2 of the screen, measured without the screen,
had peaks and dips due to the interference of the reflected sound from the ground
as shown in Fig. 13. The sound pressure levels at the edges of the screen, however,
were approximately replaced by the smooth dash-dotted lines. These represent
calculated attenuation with distance, neglecting the effect of ground reflection. All
values in Fig. 13 are uniformly related to the maximum value of H1 at each
frequency, so that every curve shows the sound pressure distribution with a
reference value 0 dB at O i on the horizontal edge of the screen shown in Fig. 11.
(5) Considering the effects of the ground reflections, the calculation is per-
formed at P', the image of P, in the same way as at P, neglecting the ground. Then
the calculated sound energy at P' is added to the sound energy at P calculated
above. The reflection coefficient of the ground should be considered in this addition
according to the ground condition. However, in this case, the reflection coefficient
is regarded as unity for simplicity.
 NOISE REDUCTION BY SCREENS 171

T h e results o f m e a s u r e m e n t s a n d calculated values are shown in Fig. 13. F r o m a

practical p o i n t o f view, the m e a s u r e d values a r e in p r e t t y g o o d a g r e e m e n t with the
calculated values, t h o u g h they s t r a y e d to the safe side.
I t is clear t h a t the c a l c u l a t i o n m e t h o d r e p o r t e d here is very useful for designing
a screen for the p u r p o s e o f noise reduction.

O I 2 3m
,VI 112 2 ~ ;4
2.5 kc
20 t H1

(m) I p

, .
L

!,
i i ~ i i i I
o ib 0 1020 01020300102030
O I 2 3m
•./v2 2F ',,,V3 ,,iv4
• 5 kc

IZl

" ' " r~-2''

._ 20 . . . . . . . ""
=. J , , , JO ~ ~
u 0 1020 0 I0 2 0 01020300102030
< 0 I 2 3m
v 2! i
I0 kc
201 '

' ' H2 ' 10.5

I JO ~ I I I
0 1020 01020 0102030 01020 30

Attenuotion (d B)

Fig. 13. Sound pressure distributions in the shadow zone of a finite screen, though H 1, V1 and V2
were measured without the screen at the locations shown in Fig. 12. , calculated by the
method in the text; , attenuation by the distance neglecting the reflection from the
ground. Attenuation; relative to the maximum value of the dash-dotted lines at the location H1.

The l i m i t i n g c o n d i t i o n for a p p l i c a t i o n o f this a p p r o x i m a t e m e t h o d o f calcula-

tion is t h a t the s o u n d pressure o n the o p e n surface at the l o c a t i o n o f t h e screen
decays g r a d u a l l y a w a y f r o m t h e edges o f the screen, as m e n t i o n e d before.

Applied Acoustics, 1 ( 1 9 6 8 ) 1 5 7 - 1 7 3
172 z. MAEKAWA

8. APPLICATION OF THIS M E T H O D TO NOISE R E D U C T I O N BY T H E O T H E R BARRIERS

In the calculation method described, sound transmission through the screen is not
considered. Therefore we must consider the screen material, for which the trans-
mission loss is larger than the calculated value of diffracted sound. If the trans-
mission loss of the screen is not large compared with the calculated value of
reduction by the screen, the contribution of the transmitted energy to the sound
level at the receiving point must be calculated. In a subsequent publication the
author will present a method of calculation for this problem, dealing with noise
radiation from a large surface.
The fundamental theory of sound diffraction, from which the calculation method
was derived, assumes a knife edge at the top of the screen, i.e. the thickness of the
screen should be negligibly small. However, the thickness of the screen tends to
increase noise reduction by the screen, according to experimental results.
Banks and buildings, both of which are good barriers to noise, would be con-
sidered to be screens having a large thickness.

sz
"H,'-,,,','H
I]!
I II
I////

F i g . 14. Approximation of the banks or buildings to a thin wall.

In Fig. 14, when the thickness of the bank XY is smaller than the wavelength of
the sound, it can be neglected. When XY is larger than the wavelength, the bank or
building should be replaced by a thin screen, the top of which is at the point O, as
shown. Noise reduction by the screen can then be regarded as the noise reduction
by the bank or building. Usually the scale of banks or buildings is much larger
than that of fences or screens. Consequently, noise reduction by a bank or by a
building is much larger than that by a fence or by a screen. This fact is important in
planning noise abatement.
Noise reduction due to the other barriers or to any terrain, i.e. mountain, hillside
or "depressed" roadway as in Fig. 15, should be calculable in the same way. The
path difference,

6 = SO + O P - SP,

is a very convenient factor to determine the value of attenuation from Fig. 4.

 NOISE R E D U C T I O N BY SCREENS 173

Fig. 4 is always applicable for estimating noise reduction of the various barriers,
with sufficient accuracy, by the calculation method described in this paper. How-
ever, when the distance between the source a n d the receiver is great, of the order of
one h u n d r e d meters or more, the more a t t e n u a t i o n due to atmospheric conditions,
i.e. wind, temperature gradients a n d g r o u n d effects, etc., 4 must be considered.

0 $ o p

P S

Mountain Hillside 'Depressed' roadway

Fig. 15. Effectivebarriers for noise reduction between the source S and the receiver P.

REFERENCES

1. C. M. HARRIS, editor, Handbook of Noise Control, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1957, pp. 3-4;
S. W. REDFEARN,Phil. Mag., 7 (30) (1940) 223.
2. M. BORNand E. WOLF,Principles of Optics, Pergamon, Oxford, 1959.
3. R. O. FEHER,Proc. Ann. Nat. Noise Abatement Symp., 1951, p. 98.
4. L. L. BERANEK,editor, Noise Reduction, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1960, Ch. 9.
5. Z. MAEKAWA,Memoirs ofFac. Engr. Kobe Univ. No. 11 (1965) 29, No. 12 (1966) 1.
6. Z. MAEKAWA,Reports Spec. Conf. 5th ICA, 1965, F-i3.

Applied Acoustics, 1 0968) 157-173