Micromechanical Particle Interactions in Railway Ballast through DEM Simulations of Direct Shear Tests
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 19, Issue 5
Abstract
Particle shape properties can significantly affect the load response behavior and field performance of the uniformly graded ballast layer in railway track structures. Particle contact and the related micromechanical behavior of the unbound aggregate ballast layer assembly influenced by the particle shape properties have not yet been thoroughly investigated. In this study, an aggregate imaging and particle shape-analysis approach based on computer vision technology was introduced to calculate aggregate morphological indices and construct polyhedral discrete elements with shapes close to realistic ballast aggregate particles. A model of direct shear test on railway ballast based on the discrete-element method (DEM) was developed using generated nonbreakable discrete elements as individual ballast particles and validated by closely matching the predicted shear stress–strain behavior with laboratory test results. The DEM model simulation predictions were then used to investigate the relations between microscale interactions of individual ballast particles, particle size effects in relation to shear box test equipment dimensions, and macroscale behavior trends of the aggregate assemblies. Stronger particle interactions and higher coordination numbers were observed as the imaging-based angularity index (AI) and flat and elongated (F&E) ratio increased. Furthermore, limiting individual particle movement was shown to increase strength and provide greater resistance to failure and deformation.
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Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 51678524), Advanced Newton Fellowship of Royal Society, UK (NA140060), and Distinguished Young Scientist Program of Zhejiang University (LR16E080002). Professor Youssef Hashash at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign provided great support of BLOKS3D DEM program. All the help is greatly appreciated.
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Published In
International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 19 • Issue 5 • May 2019
Copyright
© 2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 15, 2018
Accepted: Oct 31, 2018
Published online: Mar 5, 2019
Published in print: May 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Aug 5, 2019
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