Investigation of noise sources in high-speed trains

Abstract

In this paper, the quantification of the external noise sources in high-speed trains is discussed. A thorough understanding of the underlying causes of noise generation in high-speed trains is needed to develop effective noise control measures. However, because high-speed trains produce a complex array of sounds, it is very difficult to determine each individual source of noise. In this study, the delay-and-sum beamforming method, which uses microphone arrays, was used to separate the noise sources and analyze the sound characteristics of high-speed trains. A new microphone array with 96 microphones was designed to measure the noise produced by high-speed trains. Performance verification tests were conducted to ensure the reliability of the results obtained from the array. Then, the system was used to measure the sounds produced by Korean high-speed trains traveling at speeds between 150 and 300 km/h. Sound maps were then produced using the beamforming technique. The study determined that the majority of the noise produced by the high-speed trains originated from the front nose, bogie, pantograph and inter-coach spacing. Finally, the beampower spectra of the aerodynamic noise sources originating in the front nose, pantograph and inter-coach spacing were deduced from frequency conversion. From these results, the aerodynamic noise characteristics of the major sources of noise in high-speed trains were determined.