Exploring the impacts of road surface texture on tyre/road noise – A case study in Hong Kong

The impacts of road surface texture on tyre/road noise are explored by analysing field data applying fast Fourier transform technique to tyre/road noise spectrum analysis. The results indicate that the tyre/road noise can be higher at lower frequency bands but lower at higher bands. Cluster analysis on surface texture in terms of wavelength identified three cluster groups that centred at 1.32 mm, 3.65 mm, and 5.11 mm have different impacts on noise. The shorter wavelength group suppressed tyre/road noise, medium group aggravated it and the high wavelength group were outliers.

► Fast Fourier transform techniques were applied to examine the impacts of road surface texture on tyre/road noise.
► Tyre/road noise was higher at lower frequency bands but lower at higher bands.
► Surface texture in terms of wavelength identified three cluster groups that have different impacts on noise.