Laboratory tests and analyses of the level of vibration suppression of prototype under ballast mats (Ubm) in the ballasted track systems

Abstract

The present paper is aimed at the analysis of under ballast mats (UBM) which are used in ballasted track structures as vibration isolators and to protect the ballast layer against fast degradation. The mats were tested in the laboratory and afterwards a novel 4-DoF mechanical model of the track structure with UBM was developed. The novelty of this study consists in the comparison of two testing procedures: a procedure based on the popular German standard DIN 45673-5 and a new European standard EN 17282, released in October 2020. Major discrepancies were demonstrated in the determined values of the static and dynamic characteristics using both approaches—especially in reference to the mats with higher stiffness.