Abstract: The wheel/rail noise is the main component of the urban rail traffic noise. Low noise wheel is a key measure for reducing noise of train. A new type of web-mounted noise shielded and vibration damped device is designed and installed on a straight web metro wheel. Acoustic experiments of this new type damped wheels are carried out in a semi-anechoic chamber. Using a force-hammer and a 25 mm diameter steel ball to hit the wheel as the excitations, the frequency response and the acoustic radiation characteristics of the damped wheel can be obtained through the tests. The experimental results show that the damping ratio of the damped wheel increases significantly. The modal damping ratio increases by more than 10 times above 800 Hz, compared to the original wheel. The amplitude of the frequency response function reduces significantly in the frequency range of 0-6 400 Hz. Under the radial and axial excitations, the sound energy level of the damped wheel decreases by 12.4-13.5 dB and 12.4-14.7 dB, respectively. In some significant frequency bands, the sound energy level of the damped wheel decreases about 15dB.

Key words: Acoustic experiments, Damped wheel, Noise shielded and vibration damping device, Wheel/rail noise