Abstract: The vibration and sound radiation characteristics of metro wheels with three different web shapes are investigated through the experiment in a semi-anechoic room. Finite element model of the wheel is developed for modal analysis based on Lanzos method. Combining calculated mode shape and test results, the vibration and sound radiation of three kinds of wheels with different webs are analyzed. Accurate directivities are obtained by the test and empirical formulas for approximately simulating the directivities are given. As the results showed, there is a good agreement between the simulated and tested natural frequencies. Enough accuracy is ensured through the finite element modal analysis. Under the radial excitation, the natural frequencies, mode shapes and sound radiation directivities of the wheel are different with different webs. The levels of vibration and sound radiation of the wheels with curved web and doubled-S web are close. And the vibration and sound level of doubled-S webbed wheel is a little higher than that of the wheel of curved web. Comparing the wheels with curved web and doubled-S web，the level of vibration and sound radiation of the wheel with straight web is the lowest. The sound energy level of straight webbed wheel is, respectively, 5.2 dB and 6.5 dB smaller than that with curved web and doubled-S web. The related experimental results could not only provide a reference to the low noise design and the choice of the type of the railway wheel with low noise level, but also validate the simulated studies in other literatures.

Key words: metro wheel;sound radiation;vibration response;web type;experiment;semi-anechoic room