Reflected Train Noise in Swedish Noise Prediction Methods, a comparison between measurements, Nordic Prediction Method, Nord2000 rail and CNOSSOS

Abstract: The Swedish law requires a set of noise limit for residential buildings for health and safety. Conventionally, the Nordic Prediction Method (NMT) is used to predict the noise. However Nord2000 and CNOSSOS is going to be introduced to replace NMT. An investigation was made to determine which is more accurate in predicting railway noises, particularly reflected railway noises due to the uncharacteristic result in preliminary test. Compromises were made to recreate the measured scenarios in SoundPLAN 8.1. CNOSSOS features an alternative source model requiring new data on the trains and tracks and therefore unable to be compared. The conversion between NMT and Nord2000 was not successful due to the poor documentation of the method. An equivalent value in octave band was used instead. The result were not conclusive as no correlation was found. This might be partly due to the lacking of source model data in the form of track roughness. Result in reflected sound was not conclusive as well since 2 of 3 cases favour Nord2000 and the remaining one favours NMT. The uncertainty introduced in using of the standards and measurements were also rather large, which is also one of the factor in non correlating results.