Objective Objectives and content The intense, high-pitched squeal noise generated by tram and metro vehicles transversing narrow curves irritates passengers as well as inhabitants. This high frequency squeal noise is due to non linear stick slip (creepage) forces between railway wheel and rail. The lateral sticking and slipping causes vibrations in the wheel to increase until a stable amplitude is reached. Damped and resilient wheels are sometimes used to reduce squeal noise. To reduce wheel rail squeal noise with measures at the level of the track, rail lubrication (or flange lubrication) are used. These solutions are very unfriendly for the environment. A more promising method consists in introducing lateral damping in the wheel-rail system, or in changing the coefficient of friction between rail and wheel by a special treatment (hardsurfacing). The intended research project aims at developing rail fastening principles and rail damping devices with enough lateral damping and at developing rail hardsurfacing techniques with a specific coefficient of friction to prevent squeal generation. To achieve this, a good knowledge of the squeal generation mechanisms is required. A model for wheel-rail squealing noise will be established and validated. Parameter studies will show the sensitivity of the sound power against changes in the parameter values. In this way, minimum lateral damping values for the rail fasteners will be determined in functioned of all other variables (curves radius, speed, wheel geometry, ...). Specific rail fasteners and specific rail damping devices for curves will be developed and installed on an in situ test track. A rail section in curve will be hardsurfaced. Noise and vibration measurements will be carried out on both sections to compare with modelling results. The general aim is to be able to predict the generation of squeal noise and to have efficient rail damping principles and rail damping treatment procedures to solve this problem. Fields of science engineering and technologymechanical engineeringtribologylubricationnatural sciencesmathematicspure mathematicsgeometry Programme(s) FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0302 - Transports Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Alfa Products & Technologies NV EU contribution No data Address 12/6,Mechelsevest 3000 Leuven Belgium See on map Total cost No data Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all ACAB ACOUSTIC CONTROL LABORATORIES AB Sweden EU contribution No data Address 1,Tumstocksvaegen 1 187 66 TAEBY See on map Total cost No data Delta Rail EESV - EEIG Belgium EU contribution No data Address 5,Plantsoenstraat 2850 Boom See on map Total cost No data REGIE AUTONOME DES TRANSPORTS PARISIENS France EU contribution No data Address 40 BIS,Rue Roger Salengro 40 Bis 94724 FONTENAY SOUS BOIS See on map Total cost No data Société Nouvelle de Métallisation Industrielle France EU contribution No data Address 50,Rue Mourelet 84093 Avignon See on map Total cost No data
