Wheel-rail noise : theoretical modelling of the generation of vibrations

Abstract

The rolling of a wheel on a rail is an important source of noise from railways, particularly as the speeds of trains increase. This noise is known to emanate from the structural vibrations of the wheels and rails. A theoretical study is presented of the mechanisms which generate these wheel and rail vibrations. Mathematical models of the vibrational response of a wheel and a rail are developed. These are then coupled in a linear frequency-domain model through a multi-degree-of-freedom contact zone, described by its receptances. Excitation due to the surface roughness profiles of the wheel and rail is considered in detail. This generates a relative displacement input between the wheel and the rail in the vertical direction. The predicted responses of the wheel and rail generally correspond well to measured data, although some discrepancies are noted. The effect of the rotation of the wheel is incorporated into the model, and is seen to improve the form of the response. Remaining discrepancies can be attributed to lack of precision in wheel modal data, and to systematic errors in the experimental results. Parametric studies are presented of the overall model. They show, amongst other things, that, to reduce the wheel vibration, added wheel damping needs to be greater than would be expected from free wheel receptances. Reduction of noise from the rail is a less surmountable problem; very high levels of damping would be needed to reduce the radiating length significantly. Alternative excitation mechanisms are discussed, such as the lateral movement of the contact, and absolute as well as relative force inputs.

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