Effects of tuned slab damper on low frequency ground vibration levels on metro systems

Abstract

This paper describes a method to reduce slab low frequency vibration using tuned slab dampers on a metro track. Track frequency response functions have been compared between a standard slab track and the track with optimized tuned slab damper. Slab and track bed vibration measurements were also carried out on the same track with and without tuned damper respectively under the same traffic conditions. The results demonstrate that for slab with tuned damper, low frequency slab vibration level is reduced by more than 10 dB under normal metro traffic conditions.