Light Rail Systems
The tools for a quieter railway Managing the noise and vibration from railways and tunnels is becoming an increasing issue along and above major rail corridors in Australia – particularly those within close proximity of housing and offices. The solutions to lessen the noise disruptions often involve building unsightly concrete walls to manage noise, but there are more appealing, effective alternatives at a third of the cost. The more people benefit from noise attenuation, the more funding that can be found to assist railway authorities to reduce noise. All major new rail projects have strict noise and vibration limits and this should apply to other critical areas of the existing network where noise can now be reduced at its source. STRAILastic’s “noise attenuation tool box” for dealing with sound and vibration for railways provides cost-effective proven options to allow acoustic engineers and asset managers various combinations to choose from, in new and existing transport systems. INSIDE THE TOOL BOX Acoustic engineers first determine the level of noise at the boundaries using noise maps. STRAILastic products are designed to trap and reduce the noise where it is generated inside the railway corridor and, more importantly, as close as possible to the source. The products offer the acoustic engineers the ability to overlay the products within the
The STRAILastic_SW system is a noise barrier that can be installed without a railing.
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tool box, to establish which combination of the mini sound walls, acoustic panels and web dampers (the tool box) will most costeffectively reduce noise where it is generated to achieve a significant noise reduction. The products can all be retrofitted into existing tracks with steel sleeper extensions, but where the mini sound walls are positioned outside the tamping area. Alternatively, the walls can be bolted to their own foundations such as mini piles/ ground screws or concrete foundation, using the fully integrated steel frame moulded into the product. AN AESTHETIC ECONOMIC SOLUTION Although it isn’t always possible to substitute high noise barriers everywhere, in many locations such as high embankments, viaducts and bridges, mini sound walls can replace the need for these highlyengineered structures. Mini sound walls have a very low visual impact which can be further reduced by attaching screen printed local scenes on the obverse side. These walls don’t need planning approval to be installed, which can be another major challenge with large concrete panel walls. The new mSW 730 high noise absorbing
panels can substantially reduce the airborne noise generated by from the wheel rail interface and corrugation vibration from the top of rail and absorb it before it reaches the boundary of the rail corridor. STRAILastic typically suggests a combination of rail web dampers using its INOX 2.0 dampers with the various mini sound walls. • TP Panel - A solution specifically designed for tunnels In tunnels, airborne noise can travel into the passenger compartment inside the rolling stock, where strict limits are imposed on manufacturers to manage this noise particularly in tunnels. In turn, this requires the infrastructure designer to reduce this noise by attaching acoustic panels inside the tunnels. Due to pressure and suction forces that can be created by trains travelling through tunnels, acoustic paneling needs to be able to withstand extreme forces, whilst reducing the airborne noise substantially and be easy to maintain. To address this common issue, STRAILastric offers the its TP tunnel panelling, which is designed and developed specifically for use in rail tunnels. The panelling features a moulded curve that is designed to perfectly fit the contours in tunnels, for each tunnel’s unique curve. STRAILastic_TP panels are attached directly to the tunnel wall with mounting rails, allowing individual panels to be removed if required. The panels, with their noise-absorbent acoustic surface and robust frames, are able to withstand the extreme pressure and suction forces allowing for speeds of up to 120km/h. As an option, this curved panel can be used on the open side of the tunnel, with the mini sound wall installed on the other side of the tunnel, but where it can also support the evacuation walkway. Strailastic is able to offer each project the flexibility to design their acoustic panels precisely for the project.
