THE NOISE BEHAVIOUR OF THE WHEEL/RAIL-SYSTEM: SOME SUPPLEMENTARY RESULTS

Acoustical measurements were carried out on railroad coaches, on standard tracks and in the free field during test runs. In particular the influences of noise parameters like train speed, track condition, wheel type or locomotive propulsion were examined. Among other things, it appeared that the track conditions can vary considerably, a fact that has a great influence on all measurement values. One obtains a kind of "track profile" relatively independent of the train speed. Measurements both on the parts of the rail and in the free field during the pass-by of a train wheel, just as do the measurements of the wheel levels at the same time, indicate that the rail in the frequency range between 500 and 1200 Hz is the most important factor with regard to sound radiation. Only above this range is the wheel the essential radiator, mainly in the range around 2000 Hz. Further it could be ascertained that the total acceleration levels of the wheel rim have a greater speed exponent than the total acceleration levels of the rail. This can be important if one makes an extrapolation for high train speeds. Additional damping of coach wheels results in a greater noise reduction not only for the radiated sound but also for the structure-borne sound at the rails. This fact indicates the relatively strong coupling between rail and wheel. Furthermore it was ascertained that the levels generated by a locomotive in the upper frequency range are similar to those produced by damped coach wheels. A propulsion influence of an electrical locomotive on the radiated total sound level could not be ascertained. In the last section possible noise generating mechanisms are pointed out with regard to their importance as indicated by our present state of knowledge.

• Availability:
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• Corporate Authors:

  Academic Press Incorporated

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  London NW1 7DX,   England 
• Authors:
  • Feldman, J
• Publication Date: 1983-3-22

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 179-187
• Serial:
  • Journal of Sound and Vibration
  • Volume: 87
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0022-460X
  • EISSN: 1095-8568
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0022460X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Noise; Noise sources; Railroad tracks; Railroad wheels; Railroads; Sound level; Spectrum analysis; Structural design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Track geometry
• Subject Areas: Environment; Public Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00377090
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Railways
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 30 1983 12:00AM