Design of noise-reduction seats for high-speed trains

Noise-reduction seats have been successfully used in concert halls, theaters, and other places that reduce noise. In this study, a new noise-reduction seat design was proposed for high-speed trains, which have unique interior noise spectral characteristics. First, before the noise-reduction seat models were fabricated, the parameters of high-performance sound-absorbing materials and perforated plates were selected by conducting a standing-wave tube test. The sound-absorption effects of the noise-reduction seats and normal seats were investigated and compared in a reverberation chamber. Test results showed that, compared with normal seats, the noise-reduction seats obtained a significantly improved sound-absorption coefficient in the entire frequency band. Furthermore, the test results were used to establish a simulation model for calculation, and the simulation results proved that the noise-reduction seats substantially reduced the noise in an entire train car. Finally, the noise-reduction seats were fabricated and installed in a full train car of an actual high-speed train. The test results showed that, compared with the normal seats, the noise-reduction seats decreased the noise level at a standard point in the passenger car by 1.5 dB. Therefore, the noise-reduction seats are effective in noise reduction.