Next-generation Anti-vibration Mats for Modern-day Track Designs

Track engineers often encounter conflicting demands when designing a track system: on the one hand seeking uncompromised track stability ensuring safety and comfort for the passengers and low maintenance cost for the track owner, on the other hand ensuring a track that is sufficiently soft –typically by means of the deliberate introduction of one or several types of resilient elements into the track structure – thereby ensuring that national standards are met with regard to ground-borne vibration levels, e.g. at nearby dwellings.Obviously, what is sought is a resilient element that not only lives up to the basic requirements of the national accreditation in question –for instance the well-known German Railways DB BN 918-071-1 norm –but surpasses these requirements and delivers sterling performance on aspects such as constant form stability, ultra-low sensitivity to environmental factors, extended fatigue resistance and fire safety. With a special view to such performance aspects, this paper takes an in-depth look at the most important features, advantages and benefits of the RockXolid and RockBallast product lines.