Special trackwork assembly

A special trackwork assembly comprising:

• a special trackwork body formed to support wheels of a train moving over a running surface portion of an exterior surface of the special trackwork body that generate traffic-related vibrations of the special trackwork body having at least one frequency of interest;
• at least one tuned mass damper that is secured to the special trackwork body and formed to vibrate, in response to the traffic-related vibrations of the special trackwork body, at said at least one frequency of interest, to at least partially dampen the traffic-related vibrations of the special trackwork body;
• the special trackwork body comprises a plurality of internal cavities, each said internal cavity being defined by at least one internal wall respectively;
• and
• said at least one tuned mass damper comprises a plurality of internal tuned mass dampers respectively positioned in the internal cavities secured to the special trackwork body via said at least one internal wall respectively.

A tuned mass damper for damping traffic-related vibrations of a special trackwork body generated by train wheels rolling over the special trackwork body, the traffic-related vibrations having at least one frequency of interest, the tuned mass damper comprising:

• at least one resilient element comprising at least one resilient material, said at least one resilient element having a preselected stiffness;
• at least one non-resilient element comprising at least one non-resilient material that is at least partially connected to the special trackwork body via said at least one resilient element, said at least one non-resilient element having a preselected mass;
• the preselected stiffness of said at least one resilient element and the preselected mass of said at least one non-resilient element being selected to permit the tuned mass damper to vibrate, in response to the traffic-related vibrations transmitted thereto, at said at least one frequency of interest, to at least partially dampen the traffic-related vibrations of the special trackwork body;
• said at least one resilient element comprising a first resilient element positioned between the special trackwork body and said at least one non-resilient element;
• and
• said at least one non-resilient element being at least partially connected with the special trackwork body via the first resilient element.

A method of damping vibrations of a special trackwork body formed to support wheels of a train moving over a running surface of the special trackwork body that generate traffic-related vibrations of the special trackwork body having at least one frequency of interest, the method comprising:

• (a) providing at least one resilient element having a preselected stiffness;
• (b) providing at least one non-resilient element having a preselected mass;
• and
• (c) via said at least one resilient element, connecting said at least one non-resilient element to the special trackwork body, to permit said at least one non-resilient element and said at least one resilient element to vibrate, in response to the vibrations of the special trackwork body, at said at least one frequency of interest, for at least partially dampening the traffic-related vibrations of the special trackwork body.

A special trackwork assembly connected with a surrounding structure, the special trackwork assembly comprising:

• a vibration isolator;
• a special trackwork body for supporting wheels of a train moving over a running surface portion of an exterior surface of the special trackwork body that generate traffic-related vibrations in the surrounding structure, in the absence of the vibration isolator, at a dominant frequency;
• the vibration isolator comprising:
• at least one non-resilient isolator element having a predetermined isolator mass that is bonded with the special trackwork body to form a combined body having a preselected total body mass;
• at least one resilient isolator element at least partially supporting the combined body;
• and
• said at least one resilient isolator element having a preselected isolator stiffness that is selected to permit the combined body and said at least one resilient isolator element to vibrate, in response to the movement of the wheels of the train over the running surface portion, to at least partially isolate the surrounding structure from the traffic-related vibrations at a predetermined isolation frequency that is equal to or less than the dominant frequency.

A special trackwork assembly connected to a surrounding structure, the special trackwork assembly comprising:

• a vibration isolator;
• a special trackwork body for supporting wheels of a train moving over a running surface portion of an exterior surface of the special trackwork body that generate traffic-related vibrations in the surrounding structure, in the absence of the vibration isolator, at a dominant frequency, the special trackwork body as installed, in the absence of the vibration isolator, comprising a main system;
• the vibration isolator comprising:
• at least one non-resilient isolator element having a predetermined isolator mass that is bonded with the special trackwork body to form a combined body having a predetermined total body mass;
• at least one resilient isolator element at least partially supporting the combined body;
• said at least one resilient isolator element having a preselected isolator stiffness selected to permit the combined body and said at least one resilient isolator element to vibrate, in response to the movement of the wheels of the train over the running surface portion, to at least partially isolate the surrounding structure from the traffic-related vibrations at a predetermined isolation frequency that is equal to or less than the dominant frequency;
• the vibration isolator and the main system having a main combination natural frequency;
• and
• at least one tuned mass damper comprising at least one resilient element having a preselected stiffness and at least one non-resilient element having a predetermined damper mass secured to the special trackwork body via said at least one resilient element, the preselected stiffness and the preselected damper mass being selected to permit said at least one tuned mass damper to vibrate at a frequency of interest based on the main combination natural frequency of the vibration isolator and the main system, to at least partially dampen the traffic-related vibrations.