Temperature effects on noise radiated by concrete railway structures

Abstract

In recent years, concerns have arisen regarding the periodic deformation of high-speed railway tracks owing to the temperature effects caused by the solar radiation. This phenomenon has prompted investigations into temperature-induced changes in the dynamic responses of vehicle–track–bridge systems. Previous studies have commonly taken the additional track irregularity caused by thermal deformation as the sole factor affecting dynamic responses while neglected changes in the structural frequency response characteristics. Structural radiation noise is also a prominent issue that affects the lives of people and the environment. However, studies on track–bridge-borne noise rarely consider the influence of temperature. To address the impact of temperature on structure-borne noise radiated by tracks and bridges, this study employed a sequentially coupled multi-physics analysis method. This approach allowed a comprehensive exploration of the temperature effects on track irregularities, structural frequency responses, and sound radiation efficiency. A full-scale temperature deformation field test of a CRTS III slab was also conducted to determine the necessary initial thermodynamic boundary conditions. The analysis results revealed that the thermally induced deterioration of track irregularity and changes in structural frequency response characteristics were the primary factors affecting structure-borne noise radiated by track–bridges under local climate conditions.