Examination of Rail Dampers with Respect to Noise and Vibration Mitigation

Authors

  • Gabriella Csortos
    Affiliation

    Department of Highway and Railway Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1117 Budapest, Műegyetem rkp. 3., Hungary

  • Fülöp Augusztinovicz
    Affiliation

    Department of Networked Systems and Services, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1117 Budapest, Magyar tudósok krt. 2., Hungary

  • László Kazinczy
    Affiliation

    Department of Highway and Railway Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, H-1117 Budapest, Műegyetem rkp. 3., Hungary

https://doi.org/10.3311/PPci.13382

Abstract

Nowadays there are more and more possibilities to mitigate noise and vibration emitted by railway transport to the lower levels. Among them, rail dampers with highly viscous properties placed on the rail web, fixed with adhesives or other methods, appeared as a new element in the railway superstructure. The elements are applied to reduce noise and vibration by transforming the vibration energy of the rail web into heat, through their large internal friction. Many companies produce rail web elements and apply them with success abroad. Domestic manufacturers have already appeared in Hungary; however, the installation of these elements is still very limited. This publication is intended to introduce the rail dampers and to demonstrate their efficiency through laboratory and field measurements. Experimental modal analysis was used during the laboratory test to determine the eigenfrequencies, the damping factors and the mode shapes of an experimental rail section, thus analyzing the vibration damping and noise reduction effect of the elements. Field measurements were also carried out at a segment installed with rail web elements in Hungary and its vicinity, under standardized conditions. By averaging measured noise level values for various types of trains, comparable noise reduction of the investigated rail web element can be achieved. The laboratory and field test results confirmed that the rail web elements can be suitable for rolling noise reduction and vibration damping in most of the cases. The results of the measurements provide guidance and information for future development of the elements.

Keywords:

railway superstructure, rail dampers, rail absorbers, vibration damping, noise reduction, applied modal analysis

Published Online

2020-05-06

How to Cite

Csortos, G., Augusztinovicz, F., Kazinczy, L. “Examination of Rail Dampers with Respect to Noise and Vibration Mitigation”, Periodica Polytechnica Civil Engineering, 64(3), pp. 658–667, 2020. https://doi.org/10.3311/PPci.13382

Issue

Section

Research Article