RAIL NOISE & VIBRATION MONITORING

Notwithstanding the human impact of noise, frictional forces between the Wheel and Rail Interface (WRI) can create noise indicating an early onset of mechanism damage to track and wheel. For many rail operators, this complex issue can result in customer complaints, regulatory non-compliance, and costly maintenance or replacement of wheels and track. Effective Friction Management (FM) can help reduce or prevent this.

Noise from the Wheel Rail Interface (WRI) includes:

Noise from track discontinuities and irregularities.
Rolling noise, typically dominant above about 30 km/h on straight track
Curving noise including wheel squeal. Where this occurs, it can be dominant at any speed but especially in tight curves and at low speed.
Note that Speed is critical to WRI noise, e.g. doubling speed from 30 to 60 km/h can almost double the perceived noise level.

How can we help you differentiate the interface mechanisms to treat the root cause?

1. Monitoring and consultation

Establish infrastructure and vehicle characteristics and operational parameters to determine suitable N&V monitoring needs
Understand the N&V trends
Collect continuous data to allow for variables in the operation. Set condition limits for alerts
Identify noise frequencies and vibrations emanating from operational conditions
Investigate any previous condition-based maintenance undertaken such as grinding
Via user friendly dashboards see real time ‘hot spots’ for further investigation
Identify mechanism of damage such as curve squeal and flanging, emerging corrugation and roughness, track faults such as cracks and dipped welds, wheel flats and polygonsiation as soon as they occur.

2. Utilise effective FM where it is needed

Survey current mitigation solutions and adjust or re-site
Creation of a map of sites where alternative mitigation maybe beneficial via wayside on train borne solutions

Product Selector

Product	Description	Download TDS
Train Borne Monitoring System	Noise and Vibration (N&V) Monitoring System for Rail Track	Click to download

Optimised asset management through condition based and predictive maintenance provides

Noise problems are constantly evolving, even on established networks, so there will always be new opportunities to help reduce or prevent noise.

Friction management is one of the main noise mitigation technologies:

Lubrication for flanging noise.
Top of Rail Friction Modifiers (ToRFM) for squeal and rolling noise including corrugation.
Noise management was a key driver for the development of many European friction modifiers.
Where there is noise there is wear and/or damage so noise management drives improvement for wheel and/or rail life.

Different WRI conditions create different noise signatures which can be used for pro-active WRI fault diagnosis.

For a free consultation, get in touch today.

Our team of engineers can assess suitable monitoring solutions and advise on any corrective measures needed to protect your rolling stock and network.

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Case Study

The tight radius curves at St Pancras Station have long caused issues with noise and garnered complaints from the local residents. After discussions with our technical sales manager, Claretech Supreme was recommended and successfully trialled. Now, it's used in all of their lubricators and continues to manage the noise issue.