Calenberg Ingenieure
Special Elastomer Materials for Railway Superstructures
- This article first appeared in the Railway-News magazine Issue 3 2022.
The Calenberg product range comprises special elastomer materials made from high-grade natural and synthetic rubbers for various fields of application in building construction and rail infrastructure. Calenberg products improve the quality of life by protecting against traffic effects such as vibrations and structure-borne noise. Vibrations are perceptible oscillations that are not only disturbing to human beings but may also lead to disturbance and damage to apparatus or other installations in buildings. Structure-borne sound can radiate in a building as secondary airborne sound and considerably influence people’s wellbeing.
One of the top products for meeting the purposes described above is the durable and maintenance-free USM 1000 W which has just recently been installed two-layered over an area of 500sqm in the city of Nieuwegein, Netherlands, in a mass-spring-system below a switch complex, as vibration protection for a noise-sensitive residential area close to tram traffic.
The intention is to protect future high-rise buildings from vibrations caused by passing trains travelling over this switch complex. The mass-spring-system achieves a natural frequency of 11Hz, meets the specifications and provides optimal protection.
The realisation of the Nieuwegein city project includes the construction of about 2000 new flats, a tram and bus stop, space for gastronomy, new walking and cycling paths and many intelligent green and sustainable solutions. This will make the city healthier, livelier, greener and more sustainable.
