Utah Valley University constructed a pedestrian bridge to aid pedestrians in safely crossing over a 10-lane interstate between the university and the nearby train station. This bridge is heavily used, with an estimated 29,000 users in January 2024. However, the noise level is a concern for many individuals who use the bridge. The focus of this study is to analyze how the sound propagates on this bridge and test various materials and geometries to mitigate the sound levels experienced while crossing. Using the bridge’s construction plans, a 3-D model of the bridge was constructed using the online software OnShape. This was then imported as a mesh into COMSOL Multiphysics to analyze how the roof of this bridge influenced the sound levels one experiences. Preliminary data shows that the roof increases the noise experienced by 10 dB. Both absorptive and reflective materials will be tested with a goal to find a solution that does not significantly increase the weight and adversely affect stresses the bridge experiences. Surveys will also be conducted to observe how much traffic-generated sound levels users are exposed to in addition to the added noise of headphones or earbuds.
Settle et al. (Wed,) studied this question.