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Virtual certification of acoustic performance for freight and passenger trains

Project

ACOUTRAIN - Virtual certification of acoustic performance for freight and passenger trains


Funding origin:
European
European Union
STRIA Roadmaps:
Vehicle design and manufacturing (VDM)
Vehicle design and manufacturing
Transport mode:
Rail
Rail
Transport sectors:
Passenger transport
Passenger transport
Freight transport
Freight transport
Project website:
Duration:
Start date: 01/10/2011,
End date: 31/12/2014

Status: Finished
Funding details:
Total cost:
€3 211 175
EU Contribution:
€2 091 220

Overview

Background & policy context:

ACOUTRAIN will simplify and improve the acoustic certification process of new rolling stock, in particular relating to the TSI Noise. Today the need of conformity assessment for a new vehicle according to the TSI Noise represents a significant element of both cost and time to market due to the need to carry out expensive and time consuming tests.

Objectives:

The goal of the proposed project is to speed up the product authorisation by introducing some elements of virtual testing while retaining the same degree of reliability and accuracy. A successful simplification of the TSI conformity assessment process would result in a strengthening of the competitiveness of the European railway sector. The risk of not developing such a simplification would be that the expense of excessive certification of new products could hamper the introduction of new innovations.

Methodology:

The major outcome of the ACOUTRAIN project will be a new certification process including some elements of virtual testing. This will be ready for inclusion in the next full revision of the TSI Noise, planned in 2013. The R&D work program will be implemented with the following objectives:

  • WP1: establishment of procedures for a virtual certification of acoustic performances of freight and passenger trains;
  • WP2: an improvement and harmonization of the rolling noise characterization process;
  • WP3: establishment of methodologies to measure other noises sources;
  • WP4: a methodology to validate global tools for pass-by noise and standstill noise predictions so that they can be used as part of future certification; and;
  • WP5: a validation of the procedure range for the virtual noise certification. A significant part of the project is dedicated to the relationship with the Notify Bodies and Authorities to ensure that the objectives of the project are well connected with their expectations.

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