3D finite element analysis of composite noise barrier constructed of polyurethane products

Abstract

This paper presents a numerical investigation on the structural performance of an innovative noise barrier consisting of poly-block, rigid polyurethane foam (RPF) and polyurea. The mechanical characteristics of RPF as well as the flexural resistance of the proposed wall system (poly-wall) were established and presented in another study. The experimental results are used in the current study to develop, calibrate and verify 3D finite element (FE) models of the wall system. The components of the poly-wall including steel rebars, poly-blocks and RPF cores were simulated and then verified using the results of experiments conducted on the wall components. The results of numerical analysis exhibited a satisfactory agreement with the experimental outcomes for the entire wall system. The verified numerical models were then used to conduct a parametric study on the performance of poly-wall models under uniform wind load and gravity load. The findings of the current study confirmed that the structural performance of poly-wall is satisfactory for noise barrier application. Simulation techniques for improvement of the numerical analysis of multi-martial 3D FE models were discussed.

Keywords

3D finite element / sound wall / rigid polyurethane foam / poly-wall / numerical model / calibration

References

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank POLY-MOR Canada Inc. for supplying all required materials and technology for this research, their assistance in building the samples and their financial support. The authors also appreciate the financial support of Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2016 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg