Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Noise protection wall
and
Method for Producing a Noise Protection wall
The invention relates to a noise protection wall for
screening traffic routes and other sources of noise
with a number of plate-shaped wall elements that are
arranged one on top of the other and/or side by side.
Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for
producing a noise protection wall. Such noise
protection walls are known from EP 1 455 018 Al.
Increased environmental awareness and knowledge about
the health-damaging effects of extensive noise-
development call today for effective countermeasures.
In particular along traffic ways, such as railway lines
and roads, there is an increasing need to keep noise
away from adjacent settlements, residential
developments etc. by means of technical measures.
Further sources of noise can be noise caused by
shooting, leisure pursuits and industry.
The corresponding legal regulations are a criterion for
the need for structural-engineering measures. The
emission levels and the immission levels are calculated
on the basis of the guidelines for noise protection on
roads (RLS). If the immission level coming from a road
and calculated at buildings exceeds fixed limiting
values, suitable measures are to be taken to reduce the
immission level and protect the affected buildings.
As a general rule, the structural-engineering measures
will be noise protection embankments or walls. Noise
protection walls can often be erected even where space
is limited, for example on bridges. Concrete or
plastics prefabricated parts are mostly used in this
connection. In the case of noise protection walls,
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special importance is to be attached to having a
visually satisfactory configuration and to fitting into
the landscape.
In the case of the noise protection wall that is known
from EP 1 455 018 Al, cassette-like wall portions that
are made from aluminium are joined together in a box-
shaped manner to form a wall. These are fitted on
supports that are spaced apart from each other, with
the wall elements being inserted in the grooves of H-
shaped steel profiles. Such wall elements that are
made from aluminium are mostly very expensive when it
comes to achieving an adequate sound-protection effect.
Moreover, precautions are to be taken in order to
protect the walls from erosive environmental effects.
Against this background it is an object of the
invention to specify a noise protection wall of the
generic type with which an extensive noise protection
effect is achieved and the wall elements can be
produced simply and inexpensively. Moreover, a method
for producing a noise protection wall of the generic
type is to be specified for this.
In accordance with the invention, the object that is
set with regard to the noise protection wall is
achieved by means of the features of claim 1.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention relating to
the noise protection wall follow from the features of
claims 2 to 14.
As a result of the configuration in accordance with the
invention of the wall elements of a noise protection
wall consisting of a combination of compacted mineral
aggregates or aggregates made from glass and organic
adhesive, high sound-insulating values can be achieved
on account of the high porosity of the wall elements
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and the building material nevertheless having a high
density. Since sound-insulating values basically
depend upon the density of an insulating material, the
high specific weight of mineral aggregates or
aggregates of glass basically has an extensive effect.
On the other hand, the aggregates are also clearly less
expensive than metals or processed wood. This is the
case in particular if quartzite, granite, basalt and
quartz are used as aggregates.
The grain size of the aggregates likewise has a
substantial influence on the insulating effect as the
density of the building material should be high, as
mentioned above and, on the other hand, the porosity
will have a dampening effect on the sound. Aggregates
whose average grain size lies between 1 and 7 mm are
preferred. As regards the influence of the porosity,
particularly favourable values result with a proportion
of hollow spaces of up to 45%.
Field-proven average grain sizes dK of the aggregates
lie in a range between up to 3 mm, 2 to 3 mm, 2 to 4
mm, 2 to 5 mm or 3 to 7 mm. Generally, the grain-size
distribution is defined in accordance with DIN 66145.
The parameter n amounts to at least 9 and is
ascertained disregarding 1% oversize grain particles
and 1% undersize grain particles.
With regard to the mechanical properties as well,
however, the wall element is shown to be capable of
withstanding loads, even with respect to wind loads,
transportation and foreign-body effects. Given an
element thickness dE of the wall element of 20 to 100
mm, on the one hand a good dampening effect can be
achieved and on the other hand there is sufficient
mechanical loading capacity. The rectangular format of
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the wall elements enables them to be used universally
for noise protection walls of a variety of sizes.
When glass beads or broken glass or a mixture thereof
are/is used, in particular when combined with dyed
plastics material, it is possible to achieve visually
effective configurations. It is precisely this
visually attractive configuration that increases the
acceptance of noise protection walls in residential and
town areas. As a result of using coloured quartz sand
or natural stones as aggregate, it is possible to
choose from over 200 colour variations so that
practically no limits are set on the colour
configuration of the noise protection wall. It will be
appreciated that architects of all people will know how
to use these colour effects in an impressive way.
The adhesive is preferably a two-component polyurethane
adhesive. A hot-melt adhesive, a two-component epoxy-
resin adhesive or a one-component polyurethane adhesive
can also be used. Suitable adhesives are on offer, for
example, from the firm of TerraElast AG.
A significant advantage in the case where use is made
of a two-component epoxy-resin adhesive is seen in its
environmental compatibility. The building material of
the wall elements does not, for example, have any toxic
effect at all on mould fungi and is regarded as
difficult to degrade microbially. Nevertheless,
substances that are capable of being eluted from the
wall element can be degraded well, as material tests
have shown. As washing tests prove, there is no
chemical interaction between surface water and the
building material so that rain water that seeps through
the wall elements can be introduced in an untreated
state into the drainage system or can run off
harmlessly into the ground water. Finally, wall
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elements can be disposed of, after their utilization
phase, in an earth-washing or crushed-stone-washing
plant without negative environmental effects.
Alternatively, after suitable breaking-up or
comminution, re-utilization as granulated material is
also possible.
It is expedient to set up the noise protection wall by
fitting the wall elements between supports that are
spaced apart, with it being possible for a plurality of
wall elements to be arranged one on top of the other
thereby. Adhesion of the wall elements to each other
avoids cracks through which sound-insulation could be
disturbed.
A particularly effective improvement in sound-
insulation is produced by a construction of the noise
protection wall according to which the noise protection
wall is realized as two walls in order to form
intermediate spaces, with at least one side wall being
realized with the wall elements. Preferably both the
front and the rear side wall are realized with the wall
elements made from the combination. Expediently, the
intermediate spaces are filled with sound-insulating
filling material, such as, for example, blast-furnace
slag or granulated-tyre material.
In accordance with the invention, the object that is
set with regard to the method for producing a noise
protection wall is achieved by means of the features of
claim 15. Accordingly, the production is effected in
accordance with the following method steps:
= mixing the aggregates with a hot-melt
adhesive,
= pouring the mixture into a formwork that
shapes the noise protection wall or a side
wall of the noise protection wall,
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= heating the mixture,
= cooling and hardening the mixture, and
= removing the formwork of the noise protection
wall.
In order to reduce the time for manufacturing a noise
protection wall, it is advantageous if the mixing is
effected at a location that is remote from the building
site and the mixture is subsequently transported to the
building site in a receptacle, for example a container
or by bulk-transporter vehicle, and processed there at
the site.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are explained
in the following with reference to the attached
drawing, in which:
Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a
noise protection wall that is installed along
a road;
Figure 2 shows a horizontal section through a noise
protection wall with a two-sheet
construction;
Figure 3 shows a horizontal section through a noise
protection wall with a plurality of wall
elements that are arranged side by side; and
Figure 4 shows a horizontal section through a noise
protection wall with a single-sheet
construction.
Figure 1 clearly shows the arrangement of a noise
protection wall 1 along a road and the necessary
superelevation that results on the basis of the
guidelines for noise protection on roads (RLS). The
noise protection wall is connected to the building
ground by way of a foundation.
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A noise protection wall 1 is shown with a two-sheet
construction in Figure 2. Between two supports 2 that
are spaced apart from each other and consist of a U-
shaped steel girder respective wall elements 3 form the
front and the rear side wall of the noise protection
wall 1. The supports 2 are each anchored in the
building ground by way of a foundation that is not
shown in any detail. The two wall elements 3 are
spaced apart from each other in parallel and thereby
form an intermediate space 4 which is filled with a
sound-insulating, pourable material.
The wall elements 3 are each fitted on the inside of
the cross-piece 5 of the support 2. The wall elements
3 are held in the groove 6 that is formed by the
support 2 and is directed towards the wall elements 3,
the wall elements 3 thus withstanding the pressure of
the filling. A plurality of wall elements 3 that are
each 6 cm thick are inserted in the groove 6 one on top
of the other and stuck together at the end faces.
In the embodiment of the noise protection wall 1 that
is shown in Figure 3, a plurality of cassette-type
noise protection elements 7 are arranged side by side
in order to form an elongated noise protection wall 1.
The noise protection elements 7 are constructed, as in
the embodiment that is shown in Figure 2, as two sheets
with wall elements 3 arranged one on top of the other.
Positioned at the lateral end of a noise protection
wall there is, in each case, a closing support 2' that
holds the wall elements 3.
In sections in which two adjacent noise protection
elements 7 meet, a respective central support 2" is
provided. This is formed by an H-shaped steel girder.
The wall elements 3 are fixed as outlined with
reference to Figure 2.
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The building material of the wall elements 3 is a
combination of aggregates with a hot-melt adhesive. As
aggregates, a selection from quartzite, granite, basalt
and quartz comes into consideration; in the exemplary
embodiment described, dyed granite is used. The
average size of the granite grain lies in the range
between 2 and 5 mm. The grain-size distribution is
defined in accordance with DIN 66145, for a parameter
of at least 9 and disregarding 1% oversize grain
particles and 1% undersize grain particles.
A noise protection wall 1 with an inexpensive single-
sheet construction is presented by the embodiment in
accordance with Figure 4. Arranged one on top of the
other between supports 2 that are spaced apart from
each other and consist of a U-shaped steel girder there
are a plurality of wall elements 3 with a thickness of
approximately 10 cm. The wall elements 3 are each
fitted in the groove 6 of the support 2 between the two
cross-pieces 5 of the support 2.
Further embodiments are described in the following.
The noise protection wall consists of a U-shaped
profiled girder which may have various widths and
heights. The filling consists of prefabricated
TerraElast plates with grain-size ranges of 1-3 to
11/16 mm; depending on the requirement of the desired
sound-absorbing values this is secured, to a thickness
of a minimum of 2 cm, a maximum of 10 cm, to the inside
of the girder profiles on the left and the right. The
size of the elements can be established in accordance
with the profile demanded and in consideration of the
wind pressure with or without reinforcement in various
sizes.
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The resultant hollow space between the elements can be
filled with various materials in situ depending on the
desired sound-absorbing values. Comminuted old rubber
tyres or blast-furnace slag are preferably poured in
with or without adhesion.
Two-component epoxy resin, two-component polyurethane,
one-component polyurethane and also hot-melt adhesives
come into consideration as adhesives for this
invention.
With this noise protection wall not only are the
excellent sound-absorbing values to be emphasized, but
so too are the rapidity of the erection of the wall as
well as the infinite colour configurations of the
walls. The costs of production of the noise protection
wall lie at around half those of conventional concrete
walls.
In order to erect the sound-protection walls even more
quickly, it is possible to manufacture the elements
with a previously coated aggregate of any type and
size, for example granite, basalt, glass, quartzite or
liopor granulations, known from Patent Application EP
0798273, directly at the building site.
The granulations which are coated with hot-melt
adhesive are conveyed to the building site in, for
example, containers or bulk-transporter vehicles. Here
at the building site they are poured into a previously
provided formwork and subsequently heated. After the
elements have cooled, the formwork is removed from them
and the noise protection wall is ready for use. The
savings in terms of time and cost are enormous.
The noise protection wall is produced from epoxy-resin
or polyurethane systems. Here on account of the sound
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protection values (which are up to 10 times higher than
conventional systems) the grain size should lie at
preferably 1-3 mm to 3-7 mm and then more roughly 7-9
mm 8-11 mm 11/16 mm - 16/22 mm. The facing formwork is
prefabricated with these grain-size ranges, inserted in
situ at the building site and secured. The element can
also be inserted completely to the wall thickness of
the girder construction, as in the case of the facing
formworks. Granites etc. are used again and broken
glass in various grading curves that can also be
delivered in various colours is also added to this.
Here the binding agent is dyed with pigments during
manufacture; phosphorous dyes that have a luminous
effect are also possible.
The prefabricated elements are inserted into the stands
as a formwork. Depending on the demand (wind pressure
and sound protection values), the elements are up to 6
cm thick and secured to the inner edges of the girders.
The resultant hollow spaces are established in an
inexpensive manner with filling material, here on
account of the sound-absorbing values preferably
consisting of, for example, blast-furnace slag. The
advantage here lies in filling the facing-formwork
elements rapidly.
The production of the facing formwork is effected with
grains that have previously been coated with hot-melt
adhesive. Here a facing formwork is provided on the
outside in situ and subsequently completely filled. By
heating the facing formwork for a short time, the
coating adheres at the contact points, and a wall with
high-level sound-absorption is provided. An
inexpensive and rapidly producible noise protection
wall is possible with this method.
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List of reference numerals
1 Noise protection wall
2 Support
2' Closing support
2 " Central support
3 Wall element
4 Intermediate space
5 Cross-piece
6 Groove
7 Noise protection element
