Numerical computation of sound propagation over a noise screen based on an analytic approximation of the wind speed field

The effect of wind on the performance of a noise screen is studied. Based on wind tunnel experiments and numerical computations of flow over an obstacle, an analytic approximation of the wind speed field near a noise screen is developed. The wind speed field is used for numerical computations of downwind sound propagation over a screen, performed with the parabolic equation method. For various source–screen–receiver configurations, it is found that the effect of wind on the performance of a screen is large. Further, it is found that the effect of screen-induced wind speed gradients cannot be ignored, in many situations.