Experimental and numerical investigations on innovative floating-slab track including recycled rubber elements

Considering the increasing attention towards the environment and its safeguard, railway seems to be the most eco-friendly mean of transportation. However, the problem of vibration emission remains, especially close to urban areas. For situations where high vibration attenuation is required, e.g. for tunnels near hospitals, museums, or listed buildings, one of the most effective methods to isolate vibration at the source is to use floating-slab track systems. This paper deals with an innovative floating-slab track system obtained by introducing elastic elements made of recycled rubber. Furthermore, this research applies numerical analysis, validated by an exhaustive experimental campaign in an attempt to understand the static and dynamic behavior of the railway track studied in different configurations