Research on the effect of rail vibration suppression using the stiffness-damping interventional rail vibration reduction device

Abstract

This study introduces the Stiffness-Damping Interventional Rail Vibration Reduction Device (SDIRVRD) as a means to enhance rail vibration suppression. It compares the SDIRVRD with the traditional tuned rail damper (TRD) in terms of their vibration suppression mechanisms. The research investigates the influence of the SDIRVRD’s stiffness and damping parameters on the dynamic response of the vehicle and track. It also conducts a comparative analysis of track and vehicle vibration responses before and after the installation of the SDIRVRD, evaluating its effectiveness in reducing both track system and vehicle vibrations. The field test validates the theoretical calculations, and the vibration reduction efficiency is quantified using the insertion loss value. Key findings include the superiority of the SDIRVRD over the TRD in vibration reduction under equivalent damping ratio conditions. The SDIRVRD significantly reduces rail acceleration, displacement, and velocity admittances, with a notable suppression effect on pinned-pinned rail vibration. The stiffness and damping of the SDIRVRD play a crucial role in enhancing its vibration reduction effect, but after the stiffness exceeds 2 kN/mm and further increases the stiffness of the SDIRVRD, the enhancement of its damping effect on the vehicle-track system’s vibration diminishes significantly. The SDIRVRD reduces acceleration vibration levels in the vehicle and track system by approximately 2–3 dB. Insertion Loss measurements show significant vibration reduction in the rail across most frequency domains.