Numerical Study of Traffic Noise Dispersion Based on the Coupling Between First-Order Traffic Model and French Noise Prediction Method

Road traffic noise is an environmental nuisance which has a direct effect, especially, in the urban areas with high population density. This problem can cause discomfort among inhabitants living close to roadway infrastructure. Therefore, the aim of the present paper is to investigate the road traffic noise dispersion in nearby areas. The current formulation is based on the coupling between the first-order traffic model known as Lighthill–Whitham–Richards model (LWR) and a noise prediction method based on the French model (NMPB 2008). The mains results, obtained by the simulation step, indicate that the long-term sound level (in dB(A)), at a receiver point, depends greatly on vehicular flow rate, heavy vehicles percentage and/or average occurrence probability of downward-refraction conditions.