Using Track Elasticity for Noise mitigation on Low-Vibration Track (vor Ort)
* Presenting author
Abstract:
Slab-track technology is increasingly being used to build high-speed railway lines around the world.In slab tracks, a reinforced concrete slab replaces the supporting function of traditional ballast and sleepers.The expanding use is attributed in part to their lower maintenance, compact construction, and potential for efficient ground-borne vibration isolation.Rolling noise on slab tracks, on the other hand, often has higher levels of noise radiation than ballasted rails. There appears to be a conflict between ground-borne vibration and noise: the stiffness of the rail support influences whether vibrational energy is transmitted into the ground, causing ground-borne vibrations, or remains in the rail, causing increased noise emission.In this study, a slab track construction type known as low-vibration track is modified so that both low vibrations and low noise radiation can be obtained without sacrificing performance. This is accomplished by tuning the elasticities surrounding the booted sleeper to give low support stiffness at low frequencies and high stiffness in the range where the rail has a high radiation efficiency. The effect of the different stiffnesses on the noise emitted by the rail and track is simulated and compared to pass-by measurements by SBB on a comparable track.
