Source localization of wheel noise above 10 kHz generated on a curved section of high-speed railway line

Abstract

Measurements and theoretical studies related to wheel/rail noise have been carried out widely and thoroughly. The wheel/rail noise from 250 Hz to 4 kHz significantly influences wayside noise along railway lines. However, when a train runs on a gently curved track, the noise due to wheel and rail vibrations above 10 kHz significantly contributes to the total wayside noise. A recent field test on the wheel/rail noise above 10 kHz showed that, during train passage through a curve, the wheels on the outside rail are the dominant noise source, and after it has passed, the outside rail is the predominant on the curved section of narrow-gauge railway line. In this paper, source localization related to the wheel noise above 10 kHz is carried out through field tests with a directional microphone on a curved section of a high-speed railway line. It is found that the wheel noise above 10 kHz is mainly generated by the outside leading wheel of each bogie.