The effect of structural elasticity on the efficiency of noise barriers

The efficiency of noise barriers is usually estimated neglecting their elas tic behaviour. In this paper, the total vibro-acoustical response of simple barriers is considered. A variational approach with a boundary-element tec hnique is used. It is a generalization of an existing formalism developed f or the study of two-dimensional acoustical problems. The case of straight a nd thin barriers is studied. It is found that, at low frequencies, their vi brations can modify their insertion losses by several decibels. (C) 2000 Ac ademic Press.