Vibration Reduction Performance of a Periodic Layered Slab Track

Abstract

Periodic structure has an inhibitory effect on the propagation of elastic waves when their frequencies fall in the attenuation zone. Using this property, this work proposes a new kind of periodic layered slab track structure to mitigate the vibration caused by rail transit. First, combining the elastic wave theory and the Bloch theory, dispersion curves of the layered periodic structure are calculated, and the attenuation zones are obtained. The geometrical and material parameters of the present periodic system are optimized. Second, the theoretical model of the vehicle-rail-periodic slab track coupled system is developed. The correctness of the coupled system is verified through a comparison study. The displacement of the slab track is analyzed to guarantee the stiffness of the structure. Third, the rail harmonic disturbance is introduced to simulate the wheel–rail irregularity, and dynamic response analysis of the coupling model is carried out. Vibration reduction properties of the periodic layered slab track are studied both in frequency and time domains. For the reason of comparison, a floating slab track is also considered. Numerical results show that the periodic layered track can reduce the vibration effectively.