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Formulation of the Timoshenko elements is improved with the use of internal degrees of freedom (iDOF) representing the local displacements, leading to a new finite element approach specially devoted to the numeric analysis of the track dynamics. The dynamic formulation of the local displacement is proved to correct the frequency content of the track model. Regarding time domain studies, this approach avoids the displacement underestimation and shear discontinuity between elements, which are sources of inaccuracies and irregular behaviour. Those rail sections located above the supports are modelled with Timoshenko element over elastic foundation (TEEF), and the rest with conventional Timoshenko elements (TIM4). By using TEEF prompt disruption of the contact force at support surpassing is avoided, and the frequency response of the track around the `pinned-pinned' frequency is corrected. Moreover the TEEF formulation is extended in order to account for the sleeper pitch rotation, and evaluation of its influence over the track dynamics is performed., QC 20190220

Sound generation has been widely studied using numerical hybrid methods. The aim of this paper is to introduce a flexible procedure where the acoustic source data may be synthesized and stored from commercially available Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes and later used to predict radiated noise. Different applications will require either analytical or numerical methods for the radiation calculations. Attention is restricted to low Mach number flows where the noise generation is dominated by the interaction of the flow with a surface with at least one characteristic dimension short compared to the wavelength of interest. This makes it possible to focus on the surface source term of the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation. In this paper, in order to illustrate the basic method for storing and utilizing data from the CFD analysis, the flow past a circular cylinder at a Reynolds number of Re = 1.4. 105 will be studied, where the cylinder is compact and therefore the analytical free-space Green's function may be used. © S. Hirzel Verlag.

The presented methodology jointly accounts for the railway track periodicity and the moving load nature at noise predictions. This modelling approaches rail and sleepers employing the Timoshenko beam theory, and it is formulated to be directly implemented into noise software based on irregularity strip technique. By means of precalculated time domain responses with an analytical track model, the periodicity and moving track dynamics are addressed. In the same way, the propagative behaviour in moving conditions of waves along the rail is characterised by comparison of the responses at several positions.Regarding track support modelling, the usual point modelling is substituted by a distributed representation in order to explore the advantages of accounting for the support length. A numerical model fulfils this task and avoids boundary effects utilising infinite elements. Distributed modelling achieves a more realistic representation of the track geometry. It prevents exaggeration of the amplitude at the `pinned-pinned' frequencies without resorting to overestimation of the steel loss factors. This improvement is especially useful when overvalued rail damping leads to predicted track decay rate (TDR) higher than the one experimentally measured.Finally, the impact of periodicity, load speed and support modelling are assessed through the sound power level (SWL) results. The predictions are performed with a software package, CRoNoS (CAF Rolling Noise Software), developed by CAF S.A. Moving conditions has a limited impact on the SWL, while modelling of the foundation as periodic is important at tracks with hard pad types, and distributed support modelling becomes significant when realistic values of the steel loss factor are used., QC 20190220