An Investigation of Small-Arms Range Noise Mitigation: The Firing Shed and the Interlane Barrier

Abstract

Small-arms fire at Army rifle ranges is an unavoidable part of military training that can disturb the surrounding community and become a source of complaint. Two methods that may reduce noise levels from small-arms ranges are the use of firing sheds and interlane barriers. In this study, an open-front firing shed and an interlane barrier were constructed and each was tested in a separate experiment. In each experiment, theoretical noise-reduction calculations were made and compared with the experimental data. Results showed that the firing shed achieved significant noise reduction to the rear, and that the interlane barrier achieved significant noise reduction in the far field. In both experiments, theoretical performance calculations provided some design guidance, but an improved barrier diffraction algorithm is needed to account for source directivity and finite barrier size. The calculations highlighted the role that source directivity of gun noise plays in determining the performance of noise-shielding structures for guns, so that a simple wall barrier behind the gun may yield a larger insertion loss to the rear than a shed that partially encloses the firing line.... noise reduction, firing shed, interlane barrier, rifle ranges.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA259389

Entities

People

  • Larry L. Pater

Organizations

  • Construction Engineering Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Audio Tapes
  • Bow Shock
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Data Reduction
  • Diffraction
  • Digital Audio
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Experimental Data
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Military Training
  • Noise Reduction
  • Sound Pressure
  • Training

Readers

  • Acoustics.
  • Economics
  • Marksmanship and Weaponry.