Reduction of vibration and noise in rail transit steel bridges using elastomer mats: Numerical analysis and experimental validation

Abstract

The noise radiating from a steel bridge can be much greater than the pass-by noise levels of trains at-grade. This is attributed to a special phenomenon known as the steel bridge-borne noise, which occurs when shocks and vibrations due to moving train loads are transferred onto the bridge. To investigate the effectiveness of elastomer mats for reducing vibration and noise in rail transit steel bridges, a frequency domain prediction model is established and calibrated through a field experiment. In this model, the train and track interactions were investigated analytically, and the receptance technique was introduced to determine the force transmitted from a multi-layer track structure to the bridge deck. The local vibrations of the bridge components were solved numerically using a hybrid shell/beam finite element model based on a harmonic response analysis. The bridge vibrations were regarded as the source of noise radiation by considering each bridge component as a rectangular flat plate noise source. There was good agreement between the calculated and measured results in terms of both the magnitude and frequency dependence. The mechanisms of vibration transmission and noise radiation were investigated using numerical simulations. In addition, the vibration and noise reduction effects are discussed by numerically comparing a track system with and without an elastomer mat.

Vibro-acoustic performance of steel–concrete composite and prestressed concrete box girders subjected to train excitations

“…The vibro-acoustic response is calculated in three steps: (i) train-track interaction model-determining analytically the dynamic forces transmitted to the bridge deck, (ii) calculation of bridge vibration-conducting a standard harmonic analysis using general FE software, and (iii) calculation of noise radiation-integrating the noise from infinitesimal semispherical oscillators. This numerical simulation procedure is not entirely new, and some derivations can be found in our previous publications [26,27]. Herein, we outline briefly the method and its underlying logic.…”

“…Train-track interaction model Dynamic forces Fig. 2 Schematic of numerical simulation procedure Vibro-acoustic performance of steel-concrete composite and prestressed concrete box girders… range of 20-1000 Hz is much smaller than that of the track; thus it is reasonable to treat the bridge deck as a rigid body [23,26]. In this context, the track-bridge system can be calculated separately without reducing accuracy.…”

“…By contrast, the FEM is preferable for exploring the vibration transmission mechanism, especially for complicated structures. For example, Zhang et al [26] built a detailed coupled train-track model to analyze the dynamic characteristics of the track structure and developed a predictive FEM-based model for the bridge-borne noise from a long-span steel-truss cable-stayed bridge.…”

A combined iterative complex eigenvalue method and finite element-boundary element method for acoustic analysis of the railway steel bridge deck damped with constrained layer damping

“…Even worse, longterm exposure to intense noise may cause pathological changes in human body, posing a serious health risk. In order to alleviate the train-induced bridge-borne noise, some researchers used either the damping pad floating slab (DPFS) [5][6][7][8] or steel-spring floating slab (SSFS). [9][10][11] Nevertheless, rubber materials of DPFS are susceptible to aging in the environment of heat, oxygen and light, thus losing the effect of vibration and noise reduction.…”

Flexural wave band gaps of steel bridge decks periodically stiffened with U-ribs: Mechanism and influencing factors

“…The main vibration reduction strategies used under sleepers include ballasted cushion, elastic sleeper, trapezoidal sleeper, and floating slab. 12 These approaches have been proved to be more effective than using elastic fasteners.…”