PREDICTIONS OF ACOUSTIC RADIATION FROM VIBRATING WHEELS AND RAILS

Mathematical models which predict the acoustic radiation from vibrating wheels and rails from their vibration spectra have been developed. They are validated by using 1/3 octave vibration and noise data from an experiment conducted recently. The predictions and measurements are in good agreement for all the conditions of the experiment (which cover a range of 45 dB(A)) between 630 Hz and 2500 Hz, and for most conditions over the full frequency range of the experiment of 250 Hz to 5000 Hz. From these models the relative importance of wheel and rail in producing the total radiated sound is established. They are both found to be important at and above 1250 Hz. Below this frequency the rail is the major radiator.