Description du projet
Des pneus peu bruyants et induisant de faibles émissions de particules
Le bruit de la circulation est une nuisance grave, susceptible d’affecter notre santé et d’entraîner une mort prématurée. Alors que les moteurs des voitures et des camions sont devenus plus silencieux et plus propres, c’est désormais au niveau des pneumatiques que se trouve la principale source de bruit des véhicules. Le projet LEON-T, financé par l’UE, étudiera les émissions produites par les pneus, à la fois en termes de particules et de bruit. Les résultats serviront à définir et à proposer des méthodes pratiques normalisées concernant les taux d’abrasion des pneus et les émissions de particules dans l’atmosphère. Les effets potentiels du bruit des pneus sur la santé cardiovasculaire seront également étudiés. Les résultats du projet serviront à concevoir des pneus sans air qui devraient réduire le bruit et les émissions. Le projet formulera également des recommandations politiques relatives aux risques potentiels pour la santé.
Objectif
As car and truck engines have become quieter and cleaner over the past decades, particulate and noise emissions from road-tyre interaction have become the dominant source of traffic-generated particulate emission and traffic noise. Both particulates (airborne or as microplastics) and noise are suspected to contribute to negative health outcomes for those living near busy roads.
Currently, non-exhaust particulate emissions are not regulated. Tyre noise is subject to labelling for passenger vehicles, but not yet for trucks. Legislation is in preparation but will require a solid body of evidence of the mechanisms of generation, dispersion and potential health effects of both particulate and noise emissions, in order to introduce measures that are effective and widely accepted.
LEON-T will contribute to this body of evidence by investigating both particulate and noise emissions from tyres, and in doing so define and propose practical standardised methods for both lab and road testing—of tyre abrasion rate (mostly larger particles) and airborne particulate emissions. We will also further investigate and model the dispersion and environmental fate of these particulate emissions, as they form a sizeable fraction of microplastics found in the environment.
The potential effects of tyre noise on cardiovascular health will be investigated using waking tests and sleep studies. Here we will consider not just average sound pressure level, but also sound qualities such as tonality and timbre—as these can be influenced by tyre and road surface design.
The insights gained in these investigations will be used to optimise the design, prototyping and demonstration of a novel airless tyre, which we expect will combine reduced noise, wear and emissions with high safety, reliability and comfort.
LEON-T will make policy recommendations to mitigate against potential health hazards caused by tyre particulate and noise emissions.
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RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinateur
43710 Santa Oliva
Espagne