The STARDAMP software: an assessment tool for wheel and rail damper efficiency

STARDAMP (Standardization of damping technologies for the reduction of railway noise) is a Franco-German research project within the DEUFRAKO framework that unites end users, manufacturers and research institutes. The target of STARDAMP is to support the transfer from R&D of wheel and rail dampers to their regular application. A software tool has been developed within STARDAMP that is dedicated to the prediction of the efficiency of wheel and rail dampers. The necessary input can be produced using relatively simple laboratory measurements. The rail response is assessed by combining track decay rates measured on a real track with decay rates measured in laboratory on a free rail that is equipped with dampers. The wheel response is calculated by using a finite element model of the wheel together with measured damping data. The tool is designed not only for the use by experts within the development of wheel and rail dampers. Indeed, a main goal of STARDAMP was to provide an easy-to-use tool to infrastructure managers and public authorities in order to help the decision making process regarding railway noise mitigation measures

Assessment of the efficiency of railway wheel dampers using laboratory methods within the STARDAMP project

Noise is one of the major issues for the expansion of railway traffic. Within a relatively wide speed range, rolling noise is the predominant railway noise source. In recent years, rail and wheel absorbers have been developed by different manufacturers that show to be effective devices for the reduction of rolling noise. STARDAMP (Standardization of damping technologies for the reduction of railway noise) is a Franco-German research project within the DEUFRAKO framework that unites end users, manufacturers and research institutes. The target of STARDAMP is to support the transfer from R&D of wheel and rail dampers to their regular application. A key factor in this context is the development of new testing methods for the assessment of damper performances. Today, such tests are usually performed as field tests that are costly and time consuming. These shall be replaced by standardized laboratory measurement and calculation techniques. The present contribution deals with a proposition for a wheel absorber testing protocol, combining finite element calculations, experimental modal analysis and analytical calculations using TWINS software. Results for different wheels and absorbers are presented