Abstract
This paper describes some of the results of recent studies at TRL to provide a greater understanding of the role of road surface texture pattern and wavelength on the generation of noise from vehicles' tyres. The paper describes how this information can be used to design future road surfaces which generate lower tyre noise levels whilst retaining standards of skidding performance and durabilty. The paper includes a review of the mechanisms of tyre-surface noise generation and propagation associated with both concrete and bituminous road surface materials and establishes the important components of surface texture which govern noise generation and skidding performance. The results of some recent field trials are presented. (A)