Sound attenuation barrier with improved ease of assembly

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a plastic wall panel, comprising a hollow body having external walls and defining an internal cavity. The external walls include: a first major side wall, a second major side wall opposite the first major side wall, a minor top wall, a minor bottom wall, a first minor end wall and a second minor end wall opposite the first minor end wall. The minor top wall and the minor bottom wall each define mating structure to mate and align with another adjacent panel so that multiple panels can be tiled together to form at least part of a sound attenuation barrier. The hollow body defines a passage extending between the first and second major side walls and through the first and second minor end walls to receive a reinforcing beam.

1 . A plastic wall panel, comprising:
 a hollow body having external walls and defining an internal cavity, the external walls including: a first major side wall, a second major side wall opposite the first major side wall, a minor top wall, a minor bottom wall, a first minor end wall and a second minor end wall opposite the first minor end wall;   wherein the minor top wall and the minor bottom wall each define mating structure to mate and align with another adjacent one of the panel so that multiple ones of the panel can be tiled together to form at least part of a sound attenuation barrier, and   wherein the hollow body defines a passage extending between the first and second major side walls and through the first and second minor end walls to receive a reinforcing beam.   
     
     
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         13 . A plastic wall panel, comprising:
 a hollow body having external walls and defining an internal cavity, the external walls including: a first major side wall, a second major side wall opposite the first major side wall, a minor top wall, a minor bottom wall, a first minor end wall and a second minor end wall opposite the first minor end wall;   wherein the hollow body defines a passage extending between the first and second major side walls and through the first and second minor end walls to receive a reinforcing beam;   
       wherein the first minor end wall has a different shape from the second minor end wall, the second minor end wall defining mating structure to mate and align with corresponding mating structure of the second minor end wall of another adjacent one of the panel so that multiple ones of the panel can be tiled together to form at least part of a sound attenuation barrier. 
     
     
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         19 . A panel assembly comprising the panel  claim 13  the another panel, wherein when the panel is mated and aligned with the another panel, the passage of the panel is aligned and communicates with the passage of the another panel so that the reinforcing beam is receivable through both passages. 
     
     
         20 . A wall section, comprising first and second plastic wall panels of  claim 13 , wherein the mating structure of the first panel is mated and aligned with the mating structure of the second panel. 
     
     
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         24 . A method of forming a barrier, comprising:
 arranging a reinforcing beam to extend through the passage of each of a plurality of the panels of  claim 1 ; and   positioning each of the panels in tiled and slotted relation to flanged vertical supports, wherein a plurality of the panels are held in vertical positions by a flange of the flanged vertical support being received between an end flange of the panel and the reinforcing beam