Squeal Appeal: Addressing Noise at the Wheel/Rail Interface

This paper describes an investigation into the causes of and practical control of Wheel Squeal in the Sydney metropolitan rail system. Acoustic data together with angle of attack, wheel and rail profiles, environmental and tribological data have been collected at two sites, Wollstonecraft (on the North Shore Line) and Beecroft (on the Main North). Vehicles were also examined along with other Wheel Squeal locations. The paper describes how theoretical studies and the field data collected have been used to gain a fundamental understanding of the interaction of wheel/rail and friction characteristics, the mechanism by which these create conditions of creep and stick-slip and how and under what conditions Wheel Squeal results. Measures for controlling Wheel Squeal have been determined and some further practical developments detailed.