The design and construction of a new 'constrained layer' damping treatment
for railway wheels is presented. A numerical procedure was used for the los
s factor calculation. This procedure, first verified on a plate by means of
experimental modal analyses, allowed the best treatment thickness and arra
ngement to be chosen among those commercially available and technologically
feasible. The work ended with the construction of a prototype and subseque
nt tests in the laboratory and in the field. The success of these tests jus
tified the start of production of low-noise wheels treated in this way.