The role of theoretical models in shaping railway noise policy and mitigation strategies

摘要

The main source of noise from railway operations is associated with the wheel/rail contact. It is now widely established that railway rolling noise is caused by the 'roughness' of the wheel and rail running surfaces; this roughness induces vibration of both wheel and track and the vibration radiates sound. A review is presented of the theoretical modelling that has led to this conclusion, following which the implications of this for noise control as well as for legislation are discussed. Legal limits for the noise emission from road vehicles and aircraft have been in force for many years. By contrast the noise emission from rail vehicles has only recently been subject to legal limits, introduced in Europe through the Technical Specifications for Interoperability. This has been facilitated by the theoretical knowledge embodied in models of rolling noise. Finally, the scope for using 'virtual testing' based on calculations to partially replace costly field testsis discussed.