ACOUTRAIN · Virtual certification of acoustic performance for freight and passenger trains

ACOUTRAIN will simplify and improve the acoustic certification process of new rolling stock, in particular relating to the TSI Noise. Today the need of conformity assessment for a new vehicle according to the TSI Noise represents a significant element of both cost and time to market due to the need to carry out expensive and time consuming tests. The goal of the proposed project is to speed up the product authorisation by introducing some elements of virtual testing while retaining the same degree of reliability and accuracy. A successful simplification of the TSI conformity assessment process would result in a strengthening of the competitiveness of the European railway sector. The risk of not developing such a simplification would be that the expense of excessive certification of new products could hamper the introduction of new innovations.The major outcome of the ACOUTRAIN project will be a new certification process including some elements of virtual testing. This will be ready for inclusion in the next “full revision” of the TSI Noise, planned in 2013.The R&D work program will be implemented with the following objectives: WP1- establishment of procedures for a virtual certification of acoustic performances of freight and passenger trains; WP2 -an improvement and harmonization of the rolling noise characterization process; WP3 -establishment of methodologies to measure other noises sources; WP4 - a methodology to validate global tools for pass-by noise and standstill noise predictions so that they can be used as part of future certification; and WP5 - a validation of the procedure range for the virtual noise certification. A significant part of the project is dedicated to the relationship with the Notify Bodies and Authorities to ensure that the objectives of the project are well connected with their expectations.