TY - JOUR
T1 - Discrete element modelling of track ballast capturing the true shape of ballast stones
AU - Mortensen, Jacob
AU - Faurholt, Joachim Faldt
AU - Hovad, Emil
AU - Walther, Jens Honoré
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Railway ballast affected by heavy cyclic loading degrades and spreads resulting in an uncomfortable transportation caused by undesirable vibrations. Restoring a well sorted track ballast can be expensive. This paper analyzes track ballast deformation using the Discrete Element Method (DEM). The simulations are performed using the STAR-CCM+ software in a three-dimensional domain. Four track ballast models are studied. The first two models describe the ballast as spheres with and without rolling resistance, respectively. The third model uses a clump model that allows breaking of the ballast, whereas the fourth model describes the ballast as composite particles generated from 3D-scanned ballast stones. The sleepers and rails are modelled as DEM particles. As a supplement to the study of different ballast models, the influence of variation in the loading profile is investigated. The largest obtained deformation is observed in the ballast modelled as spheres and the smallest deformation in the ballast modelled from the 3D scanned ballast stones. The results highlight the importance of describing the ballast as non-spherical geometries.
AB - Railway ballast affected by heavy cyclic loading degrades and spreads resulting in an uncomfortable transportation caused by undesirable vibrations. Restoring a well sorted track ballast can be expensive. This paper analyzes track ballast deformation using the Discrete Element Method (DEM). The simulations are performed using the STAR-CCM+ software in a three-dimensional domain. Four track ballast models are studied. The first two models describe the ballast as spheres with and without rolling resistance, respectively. The third model uses a clump model that allows breaking of the ballast, whereas the fourth model describes the ballast as composite particles generated from 3D-scanned ballast stones. The sleepers and rails are modelled as DEM particles. As a supplement to the study of different ballast models, the influence of variation in the loading profile is investigated. The largest obtained deformation is observed in the ballast modelled as spheres and the smallest deformation in the ballast modelled from the 3D scanned ballast stones. The results highlight the importance of describing the ballast as non-spherical geometries.
KW - Discrete Element Method
KW - Track ballast modelling
KW - Particle shape modelling
KW - 3D scanning
U2 - 10.1016/j.powtec.2021.02.066
DO - 10.1016/j.powtec.2021.02.066
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0032-5910
VL - 144-153
JO - Powder Technology
JF - Powder Technology
ER -