Assessment of the Effect of Under-Ballast Mats on Vibration Reduction

Nikita Maslov; Andrey Petryaev; Abdunaim A. Saydaliev

doi:10.20295/2223-9987-2026-3-59-77

UDC 625.14

ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECT OF UNDER-BALLAST MATS ON VIBRATION REDUCTION Assessment of the Effect of Under-Ballast Mats on Vibration Reduction

АА Аа

Published in Bulletin of scientific research results · Issue 3, 2026 · Pages 59–77 · Rubric: PROBLEMATIC OF TRANSPORT SYSTEM

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20295/2223-9987-2026-3-59-77

Received: 07.07.2026 Accepted: 15.08.2026 Published: 05.10.2026 Language of publication: RUS

Authors

Nikita Maslov

Andrey Petryaev

Abdunaim A. Saydaliev

Nikita Maslov

Emperor Alexander I Petersburg State Transport University Engineer · Department “Construction of Roads of the Transport Complex” · Russian Federation

Andrey Petryaev

Academic degree: doctor of technical sciences

Emperor Alexander I Petersburg State Transport University Senior Researcher · Russian Federation · Saint-Petersburg

Abdunaim A. Saydaliev

Emperor Alexander I St. Petersburg State Transport University Postgraduate Student · Russian Federation

ABSTRACT

Objective: development and substantiation of a computational and experimental approach to assessing the impact of under-ballast mats on reducing vibration in the track on railway lines, providing a transition from laboratory-determined characteristics of elastic material to the calculation of vibration transmissibility, insertion losses, dynamic stiffness and mechanical impedance of the “track–UBM– foundation” system. Methods: this paper examines existing viscoelastic models, vibration isolation assessment methods, and the requirements of DIN 45673, ISO 10846, and EN 17282. Standard and vibration isolation mechanical models of the track superstructure, as well as methods for calculating complex dynamic stiffness, transmissibility, and insertion loss in the frequency domain, are considered. For experimental evaluation, an indirect test method is proposed using a vibration rig with harmonic excitation, static preload, and recording of the displacement amplitudes of the support plate and loading mass. Results are processed using an equivalent single-mass model, which allows for the determination of the equivalent dynamic stiffness, damping coefficient, and mechanical impedance modulus based on the resonant frequency and peak width. An analytical impedance approach is proposed for the potential prediction of vibration impact, taking into account the ratio of the dynamic resistances of the track, mat, and foundation. Results: it has been established that the vibration isolation efficiency of under- ballast mat is determined not only by its dynamic stiffness and loss factor, but also by the system’s natural frequency and the impedance ratio of the structural elements. It has been shown that resonant amplification of vibrations is possible at frequencies below the natural frequency, while in the midand high-frequency ranges, the under- ballast mat reduces transmitted vibration. In the considered calculation example, positive insertion losses were obtained at frequencies above 33 Hz. The possibility of determining the equivalent dynamic stiffness, damping coefficient, and mechanical impedance modulus based on the amplitude frequency response obtained using two vibration transducers is substantiated. It has been determined that without measuring the phase shift or dynamic force, it is impossible to accurately determine the real and imaginary parts of the complex stiffness and complex impedance. Practical significance: the proposed approach allows the use of laboratory test results for under- ballast mats for preliminary calculations of insertion losses, determining the operating ranges of vibration isolation, and comparing materials in terms of dynamic stiffness and damping. The resulting equivalent characteristics can be used as input for a finite element model of a railway track.

KEYWORDS

vibration, under-ballast mats, vibrodynamic impact, insertion loss, vibration transmissibility, complex dynamic stiffness, impedance, damping, vibration table

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GOST

Maslov N. K., Petryaev A. V., Saydaliev A. A. Assessment of the Effect of Under-Ballast Mats on Vibration Reduction // Bulletin of scientific research results. 2026. no. 3. pp. 59-77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20295/2223-9987-2026-3-59-77. (Date of access 28.10.2026).

MLA

Nikita Maslov, Petryaev A. V., Saydaliev A. A.. "Assessment of the Effect of Under-Ballast Mats on Vibration Reduction." Bulletin of scientific research results 2026.3 (2026): 59-77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20295/2223-9987-2026-3-59-77.

APA

Maslov N. K., Petryaev A. V., Saydaliev A. A. (2026). Assessment of the Effect of Under-Ballast Mats on Vibration Reduction. Bulletin of scientific research results, 2026(3), 59-77. https://doi.org/10.20295/2223-9987-2026-3-59-77

Chicago

Nikita Maslov, Petryaev A. V., Saydaliev A. A.. "Assessment of the Effect of Under-Ballast Mats on Vibration Reduction." Bulletin of scientific research results 2026, no. 3 (2026): 59-77. https://doi.org/10.20295/2223-9987-2026-3-59-77.

WIKI

{{cite journal | author = Maslov N. K., Petryaev A. V., Saydaliev A. A. | title = Assessment of the Effect of Under-Ballast Mats on Vibration Reduction | journal = Bulletin of scientific research results | year = 2026 | volume = 2026 | issue = 3 | pages = 59-77 | doi = 10.20295/2223-9987-2026-3-59-77 }}

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ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECT OF UNDER-BALLAST MATS ON VIBRATION REDUCTION Assessment of the Effect of Under-Ballast Mats on Vibration Reduction

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