Nonlinear　energy　sinks　(NESs)　have　emerged　as　a　promising　solution　to　overcome　the　narrow　effective　bandwidth　of　linear　dynamic　vibration　absorbers　such　as　the　tuned　mass　damper　(TMD).　In　particular,　track　NESs　are　increasingly　attracting　attention　as　they　are　capable　of　generating　nonlinear　restoring　forces　by　the　movement　of　an　additional　mass　on　the　curved　tracks.　The　present　study　aims　to　investigate　and　explore　the　versatile　characteristics　of　track　NESs　in　structural　vibration　control.　To　this　end,　three　different　track　profiles　are　considered,　namely　the　profiles　designed　by　a　quartic　term　only,　by　combined　positive　quadratic　and　quartic　terms,　and　by　combined　negative　quadratic　and　positive　quartic　terms.　Their　profiles　and　damping　coefficients　are　analytically　derived　in　closed　form.　The　frequency　response　functions　of　standalone　track　NESs　are　constructed　using　the　Harmonic　Balance　Method　and　compared　with　those　obtained　by　the　4th-order　Runge-Kutta　method,　and　the　dynamic　responses,　including　the　displacements,　the　phase　planes,　the　nonlinear　stiffness　forces,　and　the　vibrational　frequencies,　of　the　track　NESs　are　presented　and　discussed　under　different　excitation　amplitudes　and　frequencies.　The　effectiveness　and　robustness　of　using　track　NESs　for　structural　vibration　control　are　also　systematically　investigated　and　compared　with　TMD　under　harmonic　and　white-noise　ground　excitations.　Results　show　that　the　closed-form　solutions　of　optimal　profile　and　damping　coefficients　are　sufficiently　accurate　for　lightly　damped　structures,　and　the　frequency　response　functions　of　track　NESs　can　be　accurately　estimated　using　the　Harmonic　Balance　Method　for　low　and　moderate　excitations,　although　their　dynamic　responses　are　sensitive　to　the　excitation　amplitudes　and　frequencies.　Furthermore,　in　comparison　to　TMD,　the　track　NESs　are　superior　in　terms　of　decreased　stiffness　and　smaller　working　strokes.　In　general,　the　present　study　demonstrates　the　potential　of　using　track　NESs　as　an　effective　and　robust　alternative　for　structural　vibration　control.