CONTROL OF WHEEL SQUEAL NOISE IN RAIL TRANSIT CARS

Because of community annoyance near a Washington, D.C., Metro rail transit car maintenance yard, a comprehensive noise measurement and analysis program was implemented for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to examine the wheel squeal generated as transit cars traveled around small-radius curves. Sound levels were measured near the track as well as at locations in the neighborhood near the subject maintenance yard. Comparative measurements were also performed in two other nearly identical yards. In the absence of wheel squeal, train movements were almost undetectable outside the yard; hence, squeal elimination would satisfy community complaints and allow removal of an operations curfew. Water lubrication of the rails, found to be effective in eliminating squeal, was considered impractical for winter operations. Rail facing (a proprietary railhead treatment) was selected by WMATA as an experimental squeal control. Testing of the rail facing within 1 week of installation yielded a 23-dBA sound level reduction and the complete elimination of squeal. However, after about 3 months' service, a 14-dBA reduction with some squeal was observed; and after 6 months' service chronic squeal reappeared. This loss of effectiveness was ascribed to rapid contact point wear of the facing treatment.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1990/1255/1255-005.pdf
• Summary URL:
  http://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=CONTROL+OF+WHEEL+SQUEAL+NOISE+IN+RAIL+TRANSIT+CARS&author=M.+Staiano&author=G.+Sastry&publication_year=1990
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/030905009X
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1255, Energy and Environment 1990: Transportation-Induced Noise and Air Pollution. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Staiano, M A
  • Sastry, G
• Publication Date: 1990

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 23-35
• Monograph Title: Energy and environment 1990: transportation-induced noise and air pollution
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1255
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Car wheels (Railroads); Measures of effectiveness; Neighborhoods; Noise; Railroad yards; Railroads; Rapid transit cars; Sound level
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness
• Old TRIS Terms: Rail facing
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Public Transportation; Railroads; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00497403
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 030905009X
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM