Vibration isolation, protecting the railway superstructure and reducing noise
When it comes to green mobility and logistics, railway traffic is the means of transport of the future. All around the world, operators are focused on expanding the railway network and upgrading existing infrastructure to cope with higher frequencies and larger loads. But sustainability in this context doesn't just mean environmental compatibility and minimising the impacts of vibration and noise–it's also a key economic factor, because the longer the service life, the lower the maintenance costs and the higher the capacity of railway lines, the better the financial profitability and carbon footprint will be.
Getzner's applications offer a full spectrum of solutions for safe, smooth and "gentle" railway operations. The choice of respective products and materials depends on the objectives in the specific case, which essentially tie into the core functions of our applications. Our strength lies in providing detailed consultations and custom layouts as well as combining functions for sustainable, optimal results.
Reducing detrimental effects through vibration isolation
Track infrastructure and urban developments are becoming increasingly close neighbours, with vibrations and noise becoming a daily source of stress for residents. Railway lines also need to be laid through environmentally sensitive areas in some cases, so relevant measures also have to be put in place to protect the natural environment too. Keeping the environmental impacts caused by railway traffic to a minimum requires innovative solutions that are perfectly tailored to the respective situation.
Whether a project involves slab tracks or ballast beds, is seeking to optimise entire lines or protect particularly sensitive sections of track, the objective is to reduce the transmission of structure-borne noise to the surrounding environment and thereby prevent secondary airborne noise in nearby buildings as well.
Advantages at a glance
- Highly effective, permanent vibration isolation
- Reduction in negative impacts caused by vibrations and noise
- Easy to install, extremely durable and maintenance-free
- Wide-ranging portfolio and the perfect materials for perfect results
Sustainable protection for the superstructure
The railway superstructure is subjected to large physical loads that lead to high levels of abrasion. This results in high maintenance costs, especially on busy trunk lines. In addition to the direct costs for materials and labour, there are also disruptions such as track closures or longer transport routes due to detours, all of which negatively impact the environmental footprint.
Getzner's applications provide a defined level of elasticity to the railway superstructure, reducing wear to all crucial components such as tracks, sleepers and ballast. This increases the safety, availability and reliability of railway lines while sustainably reducing the life cycle costs.
Advantages for railway operators
- Less wear and longer service lives
- Significant reduction in maintenance and servicing costs
- Higher availability and reliability of routes
- Positive effect on ecological footprint of the overall system
Noise reduction
Noise is a common side effect of railway traffic and one of the downsides of our increasing mobility. This makes noise protection not just a matter of acoustics but rather an important element in terms of social acceptance, health and well-being. Noise presents a risk to health and is a recognised form of environmental pollution; preventative measures can address both the source as well as the receptor.
We work on solutions that effectively counteract the development of primary or secondary airborne noise by means of elasticity. There are also integrated options for effectively isolating vibrations when constructing buildings alongside railway tracks that go beyond conventional acoustic barriers.
Services
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Find out moreFurther information and questions
Vibration emissions due to railway traffic
Noise and vibration emissions are significant environmental impacts that occur in the context of railway traffic and can significantly impair the quality of life of residents. But what are the causes of so-called railway noise? Understanding the differences between vibrations and airborne noise is important when it comes to taking appropriate measures aimed at minimising these negative impacts.
Airborne noise is primarily caused by the sounds produced by the physical railway itself: the wheels rolling on the tracks and trains passing by. These sounds spread through the air in the form of sound waves and can be perceived as noise.
Vibrations, on the other hand, arise due to the mechanical oscillations that are generated when the wheels come into contact with the rails, and are transmitted through the ground. These vibrations can have an influence on buildings and structures, potentially resulting in perceptible movement and even damage.
The environmental impacts caused by these emissions pose a challenge that calls for both technological and design solutions. Equipping tracks with effective vibration isolation, such as an elastic bearing or special damping systems, can help to reduce the transmission of vibrations. Likewise, noise-absorbing materials and noise barriers can minimise airborne noise and thereby improve the quality of life in neighbouring residential areas.
Isolating vibrations at source
Elasticity in the railway superstructure
One effective means of vibration isolation is to use elastic bearings such as under sleeper pads in the ballast bed. This involves installing elastic materials under the sleepers to function as vibration dampers. Mass-spring systems are also a suitable alternative for use on slab tracks. These technologies are designed to reduce vibrations before they can be transmitted further through the track bed and subsoil. This also increases the service life of the components protected this way, while reducing maintenance costs.
Heavy strain in specific areas
Tracks are subjected to especially high loads in certain areas, such as tight curves or turnouts. The strain that occurs here isn't just evidenced by higher wear and maintenance costs; it is also a source of vibrations and noise in many cases.
Integrated solutions
The key is finding the ideal solution for the respective situation on the track. Getzner offers customised solutions for the entire railway network. We use our knowledge and decades of experience to find the right product for your individual requirements. In many cases, the objectives will go hand in hand: custom vibration isolation may be necessary for structural reasons as well as providing lasting protection for the superstructure and suppressing the transmission of noise and vibrations.
Passive measures to counteract noise and vibrations
Passive steps play a crucial role in minimising the impacts vibrations have on surrounding structures and buildings. These techniques address the affected properties and are designed to reduce the extent to which oscillations are transmitted and detected.
Resilient bedding of buildings
The use of elastically mounted floor panels and special foundations plays a significant part in preventing the transmission of vibrations. These structures are designed to absorb and dissipate oscillations before they reach the building, thereby significantly reducing the impact of vibrations on the building structure.
Diaphragm walls
Vertical diaphragm walls also help to reduce the transmission of vibrations from the surrounding environment. These measures can be applied either directly at the building or along the transmission path and can thus be deployed regardless of the foundation or as follow-up measures for existing buildings.
Structural improvements
Sound control windows are made of several layers of glass and special gaskets that significantly reduce noise levels. Installing these windows generally creates an effective barrier against noise immissions arising from outside, particularly if prescribed reference points, or trigger values, are exceeded. They are often included in noise abatement programmes and help to improve quality of life, particularly in residential areas along railway lines.
Active noise insulation for railway infrastructure
Active sound control works directly at the source of the noise and is therefore used on vehicles and transportation routes. The most common measure consists of setting up acoustic barriers made of aluminium, or constructing noise control walls or other means of shielding.
These barriers prevent the transmission of airborne noise to protect nearby residential areas and industrial estates from disturbances caused by noise. However, they can have a detrimental effect on the surrounding area due to their appearance, and in many cases do not prevent the transmission of vibrations and secondary airborne noise.
Technology and new materials in track construction
Elastic bearings
Elastic bearings under the ballast or sleepers function as dampers that absorb vibrations and thus reduce the transmission of oscillations. Our polyurethane-based materials are durable, maintenance-free and flexible, and thus have a successful record in track construction lasting many decades.
Track construction technologies
Modern track construction technologies utilise a wide range of methods to reduce vibrations, including specially designed rail profiles, optimised track geometry and elastic rail pads. These technologies help to efficiently absorb the oscillations that arise and prevent them from being transmitted to the subsoil.
Optimised track geometry
Modifying the track geometry can reduce noise levels and help trains run more quietly. Optimised curve radii and inclines contribute to reducing noise pollution and vibrations.
Use of noise-absorbing materials
Using noise-absorbing materials along railway lines for special noise barriers or sound-insulated track bedding reduces the transmission of airborne noise and has a positive impact by creating more pleasant noise levels.