Rail Pad is an indispensable component in railway track fastener system, usually installed between rails and concrete sleepers. It is mainly made of synthetic elastomers, such as rubber, EVA, HDPE and other materials.
The main functions of Rail Pad include:
Shock reduction and noise reduction: Strong vibration and impact will be generated when the train is running. Rail Pad can absorb more than 70% of such energy, reduce the vibration acceleration of the sleeper by 30%, greatly reduce the body bumps caused by rigid impact, reduce the noise transmission between wheels and rails, and create a quiet and comfortable riding environment for passengers, which is particularly important in urban rail transit.
Protect track components: It can effectively disperse the load transmitted by the rails, prevent stress concentration, protect the top of the sleeper from wear and impact, extend the service life of the rails and sleepers, and reduce the frequency of maintenance and replacement. For example, in heavy-duty railways, it can prevent the sleepers from cracking due to long-term heavy pressure.
Electrical insulation: For railway signal systems, Rail Pad plays an electrical insulation role, preventing current from leaking from the rails to the sleepers and the ground, ensuring stable signal transmission, avoiding signal interference and misjudgment, and providing protection for train operation safety.
Adapt to different environments: Due to long-term exposure to the natural environment, it needs to have excellent aging resistance, cold resistance, and heat resistance. In the cold northeast region or the hot south region, it can maintain stable physical properties to ensure the normal operation of the track system.
Different railway scenarios have different requirements for Rail Pad. Subway tracks require it to have good damping performance and low noise characteristics; high-speed railways have extremely high requirements for the elasticity and stability of the pad to adapt to high-speed trains; heavy-load railways require Rail Pad to withstand huge loads. In short, although Rail Pad is small, it plays a key role in ensuring the safe, stable and efficient operation of the railway.