Wave-based numerical investigation on diffraction correction for a low-height barrier in energy-based sound propagation model for road traffic noise

In energy-based noise propagation prediction methods, such as CNOSSOS-EU in Europe and ASJ RTN-Model in Japan, sound propagation is calculated by using the equation of sound attenuation by the geometrical divergence of the sound power from a sound source and adding various attenuation corrections such as diffraction effect and ground effect. In the ASJ RTN-Model, the insertion loss due to a semi-infinite barrier to a free field is generally used for the diffraction correction for a single barrier, the top of which is regarded as a knife wedge, whereas the diffraction correction for a low-height barrier is different from that for a general single barrier. It is given as the insertion loss due to a low-height barrier to a semi-infinite barrier, the top height of which is at the ground surface level, in a free field: the diffraction correction is zero when the low-height barrier is 0 m high. However, its range of application is not clear. In this paper, the diffraction correction for a low-height barrier is discussed by comparing the results of three-dimensional wave-based numerical analysis and propagation calculations using the ASJ RTN-Model.