Estimation of bridge noise during the passage of trains with worn wheel treads from rail vibration in a different section

Bridge noise may increase when a train with worn wheel treads passes. This study attempted to estimate bridge noise when a train with worn wheels passed based on rail vibration in a different section, i.e., using accelerometers on the rail near a station and a vehicle maintenance depot. The rail vibration in a different section was converted into that in a section where bridge noise was required to be estimated. In the estimation, the vibration properties of the wheel, track, and contact spring in both sections were considered, and it was assumed that wheel roughness exceeded rail roughness at spatial frequencies where the influence of the wear was observed. The bridge noise generated by one wheel was estimated from the bridge vibration and converted from the rail vibration with transfer functions by considering the radiation area of the viaduct. The overall bridge noise was obtained by summing the noise generated by all the wheels in a train. The estimated results were consistent with the measured values at frequencies where the wear had a strong influence.