An experimental study of the effect of low-noise wheels in reducing noise and vibration

Wheel/rail interaction is a major source of railway noise. A low-noise wheel structure is developed and its effect on noise reduction is investigated. This low-noise wheel employs a rubber material inserted into the steel rim or mounted on the wheel surface. The low-noise wheel has low stiffness and a high-damping ratio compared to a solid wheel. Measurement shows that it reduces rolling and squealing. It turns out that a subway line with the proposed wheel could reduce its interior noise level by 4−5 dB(A) and vehicle vibration level by 7−8 dB. While the proposed structure seems promising in noise reduction for railway vehicles, the endurance and cost effectivness of the low-noise wheel are yet to be verified.