A CASE STUDY TO TEST THE EFFICIENCY OF NOISE REDUCTION PERFORMED BY ACOUSTIC BARRIERS IN A LIMESTONE QUARRY

Aim of this work is to test an analytical method for calculating the attenuation of sound during outdoor propagation in a quarry environment. In this case study a particular attention is focused on the attenuation due to barriers. Some sampling campaigns are carried out to define the alteration of acoustic climate due to the adoption of such screens. The work is performed by means of some vertical barriers of known characteristics while the source is represented by a typical quarry machinery. After the characterization of the source, each octave-band attenuation occurring during the propagation from the point of the sound source to the receiver was assessed according with ISO 9613. Then the acoustic climate was assessed at a certain receptor for different frequencies. Finally in order to verify the accuracy of the proposed calculation, a sampling campaign was carried out. The paper outlines the main features and the acoustic performances of the barriers with regard to their materials, dimensions and characteristics.