Measurement and Modelling of Resilient Rubber Rail-Pads

Rail-pads are those track components which can be replaced comparatively easily in order to influence track dynamics. Quasi-static measurements as well as dynamic measurements have been performed in the low frequency range (0 – 40 Hz) and in the high frequency range (100 – 2000 Hz). The results are given as hysteresis curves and as stiffness values. In addition to secant and tangent stiffness an equivalent stiffness has been introduced. The stiffness values are frequency dependent. More significantly, they depend on the preload and on the amplitude of the harmonically varying load. Up to now a consistent time-domain model for rail-pads is not available.