An acoustic design procedure for controlling interior noise of high-speed trains

Abstract

Excessive interior noise in high-speed trains affects riding comfort of both drivers and passengers, therefore, it is a key indicator of product competitiveness for manufacturers. Past academic researches on train interior noise control focus primarily on mechanisms and characterisations of noise sources and vibro-acoustical behaviours of car-body structures, and these two aspects are often dealt with separately, unable to lead a systematic procedure for controlling high-speed train interior noise. On the other hand, many practical studies are problem-based, aiming at finding root causes of, and remedies for, a noise problem which has already occurred. They not only lack of systematisms, but also are time- and resource-consuming. To design low interior noise and to make sure the actual product based on the design does meet noise target, an acoustic design procedure is needed. Based on the experience of many years’ research in the field of railway noise and vibration, especially that gained in the development of the Chinese ‘Fuxing’ high-speed trains, such an acoustic design procedure for interior noise is summed up and described in this paper. Application of the procedure to the development of a to-be made high-speed train is also presented, together with results simulated and measured on the developed train, showing that the design goal of 3 dBA noise reduction is met.