Development of a predictive rolling noise model based on pavement texture and mix volumetrics applicable to porous mixes used in motorway corridors

This paper focuses on the development of a statistical model that predicts the CPX-Level at 80 km/h of porous and semi-porous mixes as a function of porosity and texture band levels. The model was calibrated using data from six pavement sections laid on Italian motorway corridors, two paved with open-graded mixes and four with semi-open-graded mixes. The parameter representative of porosity is the ratio between the voids in the compacted mix (Va) and the Voids in Mineral Aggregate (VMA). The texture band levels were defined upon a statistical analysis comprising the correlation coefficient, the Mallows coefficient and the analysis of variance. The results show that the main texture band levels involved belong to the range of macrotexture and that the model provides adequate accuracy, which improves when the equation is used with average values along the test sections of 200 metres.