Installation of the first Getzner mass-spring system in Hungary- a significant reduction in noise and vibration from traffic achieved
In November 2016, the first mass-spring system in Hungary was successfully implemented on a track
section of the Budapest tramway network. The adopted mass-spring system with Sylomer®, developedby Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH in collaboration with the Budapest transport company BKV Zrt. andSika Hungaria Kft., meets the requirements for modern superstructures whilst protecting residents ofneighbouring buildings from tramway traffic noise and vibrations. Measurements conducted have veri­fied the outstanding effect on vibration protection and reduction of secondary airborne noise of theimplemented measure, which has also been asserted by residents of neighbouring buildings that werepreviously affected by vibration emissions and noise resulting from passing tramway traffic.

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By: Markus Heim, Railway Division, Research & Development, Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH;
Matthias Wittwer, Project Management, Sales Getzner Austria, Getzner Werkstoffe GmbH;
Jozsef Gyerko, Chief Engineer Infrastructure, BKV Zrt., Hungary.

•11The tramway of Budapest dates back to as far as l 866. When it
first opened, horses were still being used to pull what was thenthe first modern means of transport in Budapest, satisfying theneed for mass transportation. As of 1887, the first sections ofline were electrified. Since then, the tramway network has been
extended to a track length of 147 km. Today, the tramway, thc
Budapest Metro, the Budapesti Helyierdeku Yasut suburban
railway and the city's bus transport system are all operated by
the R11d�pest transport company BKV Zrt. (BKV for short).
THE CHALLENGE OF NOISE AND VIBRATION
Today's transport operator is faced with more and moredemands. In addition, an increasing number of residents thatlive near tramway lines tend to complain about noise andvibration from tramway traffic. This was also the case inBudapest.
To counter this negative impact from tramway traffic on thequality of life of residents of neighbouring buildings, BKV
worked closely with Sika Hungäria and Getzner Werkstoffe toconstruct a test section featuring a slab track mass-spring
system. This protective measure is particularly useful whenproperties are located just a short distance from the centreof the track, as the cause is reduced directly at the source.
Moreover, the slab track mass-spring system featuring slabs
made of reinforced concrete and a full-surface bearing made ofSylomer® can also be installed quickly and accurately.
4TEST SECTION IMPLEMENTATION
The approx. 96 m lang test section featuring the slab track
mass-spring system was installed in the existing Standard
superstructure in "Y örösmarty utca" street, on tramway line 52,
which was originally built in 1980 and is 7 km long.
This line is operated with eight-axle type T6000 tramcars,
which each have an unladen weight of 38.8 t and a passenger
capacity of 176.
Installation process (see also Figs. 1-5)
The line section had to be closed off during the renewal work,
which took place in the first two wecks of November 2016. The
alrcady ageing superstructure had to be exposed along the en­tire length of the test section.
Above the 20 cm thick sub-base, a 5 cm thick asphalt layer
encloses the top of the subgrade. Full-surface 25 mm thickpolyurethane mats made of Sylomer ® from Getzner were in­stalled on top of this. These take on the role of elastic bearings
for the concrete slabs in relation to the substructure. A truck­
mounted crane and a four-rope crane sling were used to raise
the pre-fabricated concrete slabs (6 m x 2.4 m x 0.18 m) andplace them onto the elastomer mats. The concrete slabs arc
separated by an approx. 2 cm wide gap.
Rail Engineering International Edition 2019 Number 3