Providing additional protection for industrial buildings and the people inside them is the challenge addressed by the Vibrofloor II research project conducted by TINES Rail and the Krakow University of Technology.
The goal of the Vibrofloor II project is to develop and implement an industrial flooring product that will have the functionality to simultaneously dampen vibrations from external sources such as highways, trams, railways, as well as internal sources such as machinery. This specialized industrial equipment within a production hall and the people inside will be protected from vibrations. The proposed flooring product will also be monitored for acceptable deflections. This issue is planned to be addressed through the development of an anti-vibration industrial floor using materials capable of dampening vibrations from both external and internal sources. The anti-vibration materials will be incorporated into the flooring in the form of anti-vibration mats under the screed or as a concrete mixture with polyurethane shreds.
In the case of the concrete mixture with polyurethane shreds, a technological challenge will be to design the mixture appropriately to ensure even distribution of the shreds throughout the cross-section. The percentage of shreds cannot exceed proportions where concrete loses its mechanical properties and adequate strength. Furthermore, the industrial floor with shreds will need to meet usage requirements according to standards. The project’s task will be to develop the technology of the industrial floor so that it can be installed in a real-world facility. This will result in a demonstrative solution – a prototype of sorts, which, after measurement verification, will be proposed to customers as a finished product. Krakow University of Technology will be responsible for conducting measurements of the impact of vibrations on the machinery inside the building, following the manufacturer’s guidelines, as well as on the people inside the building, in accordance with the relevant standards. All these measurements will be carried out by the accredited laboratory of Krakow University of Technology and by a research team with extensive experience in this field, confirmed, for example, during measurements related to the construction of the Warsaw Metro Lines I and II, in buildings located along the Central Railway Line. Technical innovations will also be verified in economic terms – the new properties of the floors and the cost of their application will be evaluated in comparison with other products available on the market. The project is planned to be implemented over 24 months.
Read also
Comprehensive construction solutions and ballastless track systems for railways, ensuring effective vibroacoustic insulation and a guarantee of durability for mainline tracks, engineering structures (bridges, viaducts, tunnels, and rail-road crossings).
A comprehensive offer of durable materials for the construction of tram tracks, allowing to reduce the level of vibrations and noise in the vicinity of the route.