Static and Dynamic Behavior at Low-Frequency Range of Floating Slab Track Discretely Supported by Rubber Mounts in Real-Scale Laboratory Test

Abstract

Recently, with increasing social interests on noise and vibration induced by railway traffic, the application of floating slab track that can efficiently reduce the railway vibration is increasing. In this study, to more accurately understand the dynamic behavior of the floating slab track, a laboratory mock-up test has been performed, and the static and dynamic behaviors at frequency range near the system resonance frequency were explored. Based on the test results, the design of the floating slab track and the structural analysis model used in the design have been verified. The analytic and test results demonstrate that the dominant frequency of the floating slab track occurs at the frequencies between vertical rigid body mode natural frequency and bending mode natural frequency, and the dominant deformation mode is close to the bending mode. This suggests that in the design of the floating slab track, the bending rigidity of the slab and the boundary conditions at slab joints and slab ends should be taken into consideration. Also, the analytic results by the two-dimensional finite element analysis model using Kelvin-Voigt model, such as static and dynamic deflections and force transmissibility, are found in good agreement with the test results, and thus the model used in this study has shown the reliability suitable to be utilized in the design of the floating slab track.

Optimization of vibration reduction of the rubber floating-slab tracks

“…Saurenman and Phillips [5] tested the rubber floating-slab track used on the current San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system. Hwang et al [17] performed the laboratory mock-up test to understand the dynamical behaviors of the rubber floating-slab track more accurately. Furthermore, some ones studied the material of the rubber bearings.…”