The project entails a structural study with regard to a possible noise barrier along the highway A1 between Amersfoort and Hilversum. Several configurations for the columns were considered in this study commissioned by Zwarts & Jansma Architecten.
– two different heights have been taken into account; 2m and 4m,
– different center to center distance of the columns,
– three cross-sections were looked at
– models are made in both stainless steel and normal steel.
A noise barrier is categorized as a civil work and is mainly subjected to wind loads. With this in mind and the architectural vision to create tapered columns a total of three variants were designed; a IPE-section; a RHS; and a T-section. The dimensions of the cross-sections were adjusted depending on the center to center distance of the columns. Edge effects due to wind yields high loads in the outer regions of the barrier.