Wheel and Rail Vibration Absorber Testing and Demonstration

This report will be of interest to engineers responsible for wheel/rail noise control in the design, construction, and operation of rail transit systems. It provides the results of field tests performed at two light rail transit systems to demonstrate the effectiveness of wheel and rail vibration absorbers in reducing rolling noise on tangent track and wheel squeal on curved track. Testing of wheel and rail vibration absorbers was conducted at the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (Tri-Met). The wheel and rail vibration absorbers were tested individually, and in combination, on both tangent and curved track. Wheel vibration absorbers were also field tested on tangent and curved track at the New Jersey Transit Corporation\u27s Newark subway system