As part of TCRP Project C-3, Wheel/Rail Noise Mitigation, several recommendations were made for the testing and demonstration of a number of new or emerging wheel/rail noise-control technologies. Specifically, recommendations were made to test (1) several types of wheel and rail vibration absorbers, (2) nitinol wheel treads, and (3) piezo-ceramic vibration dampers.

Based on these recommendations, the objective of TCRP Project C-3A was to field test wheel and rail vibration absorbers to determine their effectiveness in reducing rolling noise on tangent track as well as wheel squeal on curved track. Field tests were performed at New Jersey Transit and Tri-Met (Portland, OR).

Status: The final report has been published as TCRP Report 67. This report, in PDF format, is provided below.