A discrete element approach to assess degradation processes in ballast beds is presented. Firstly, a discrete element model describing strength and failure of strong rock is introduced. For this purpose a granular solid is created by bonding of adjacent particles. A method to define angular ballast stones made from the granular solid is proposed. The strength of these stones is evaluated by compression between parallel platens. Comparing these results to published experimental data yields very good qualitative and reasonable quantitative agreement. Finally, the failure of aggregates of breakable stones is investigated by simulation of oedometric compression tests and indentation of a sleeper into a ballast bed.
Issue Section:
Research Papers
Topics:
Compression,
Failure,
Particulate matter,
Rocks,
Simulation,
Stress,
Granular materials,
Bonding,
Railroads
References
1.
Brown
, S. F.
, Brodrick
, B. V.
, Thom
, N. H.
, and McDowell
, G. R.
, 2007, “The Nottingham Railway Test Facility, UK
,” Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers/Transport
, 160
(TR2
), pp. 59
–65
.2.
Lackenby
, J.
, Indraratna
, B.
, McDowell
, G. R.
, and Christie
, D.
, 2007, “Effect of Confining Pressure on Ballast Degradation and Deformation Under Cyclic Triaxial Loading
,” Géotechnique
, 57
(6
), pp. 527
–536
.3.
Tanabe
, N.
, Matsumoto
, N.
, Wakui
, H.
, Sogabe
, M.
, Okuda
, H.
, and Tanabe
, Y.
, 2008, “A Simple and Efficient Numerical Method for Dynamic Interaction Analysis of a High-Speed Train and Railway Structure During an Earthquake
,” J. Comput. Nonlin. Dyn.
, 3
(4
), pp. 041002
-1–8
.4.
Goicolea
, J. M.
, Nguyen
, K.
, Galbadón
, F.
, and Bermejo
, M.
, 2010, “Dynamic Analysis of High Speed Railway Traffic Loads on Ballast and Slab Tracks
,” Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Engineering Computational Technology
, B. H. V.
Topping
, J. M.
Adam
, F. J.
Pallarés
, R.
Bru
, and M. L.
Romero
, eds., Valencia, Spain, 14–17 September 2010, Stirlingshire, U.K. Civil-Comp Press
. Paper 18.5.
Nishimura
, K.
, Terumichi
, Y.
, Morimura
, T.
, and Sogabe
, K.
, 2009, “Development of Vehicle Dynamics Simulation for Safety Analyses of Rail Vehicles on Excited Tracks
,” J. Comput. Nonlin. Dyn.
, 4
(1
), pp. 011001
-1–9
.6.
Zhai
, W.
, and Wang
, K.
, 2010, “Lateral Hunting Stability of Railway Vehicles Running on Elastic Track Structures
,” J. Comput. Nonlin. Dyn.
, 5
(4
), pp. 041009
-1–9
.7.
Cundall
, P. A.
, and Strack
, O. D. L.
, 1979, “A Discrete Numerical Model for Granular Assemblies
,” Géotechnique
, 29
(1
), pp. 47
–65
.8.
Lim
, W. L.
, and McDowell
, G. R.
, 2005, “Discrete Element Modelling of Railway Ballast
,” Granul. Matter
, 7
(1
), pp. 19
–29
.9.
Lobo–Guerrero
, S.
, and Vallejo
, L. E.
, 2006, “Discrete Element Method Analysis of Railtrack Ballast Degradation During Cyclic Loading
,” Granul. Matter
, 8
(3-4
), pp. 195
–204
.10.
Lu
, M.
, and McDowell
, G. R.
, 2010, “Discrete Element Modelling of Railway Ballast Under Monotonic and Cyclic Triaxial Loading
,” Géotechnique
, 60
(6
), pp. 459
–467
.11.
Lu
, M.
, and McDowell
, G. R.
, 2007, “The Importance of Modelling Ballast Particle Shape in the Discrete Element Method
,” Granul. Matter
, 9
(1-2
), pp. 69
–80
.12.
Ferellec
, J.
, and McDowell
, G. R.
, 2010, “Modelling Realistic Shape and Particle Inertia in DEM
,” Géotechnique
, 60
(3
), pp. 227
–232
.13.
Cho
, N.
, Martin
, C. D.
, and Sego
, D. C.
, 2007, “A Clumped Particle Model for Rock
,” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min.
, 44
, pp. 997
–1010
.14.
D’Addetta
, G. A.
, Kun
, F.
, and Ramm
, E.
, 2002, “On the Application of a Discrete Model to the Fracture Process of Cohesive Granular Materials
,” Granul. Matter
, 4
(2
), pp. 77
–90
.15.
Diederichs
, M. S.
, 2000, “Instability of Hard Rockmasses: The Role of Tensile Damage and relaxation
,”. Ph.D. thesis, University of Waterloo, Canada.16.
Fleissner
, F.
, Gaugele
, T.
, and Eberhard
, P.
, 2007, “Applications of the Discrete Element Method in Mechanical Engineering
,” Multibody Sys. Dyn.
, 18
(1
), pp. 81
–94
.17.
Kun
, F.
, and Herrmann
, H. J.
, 1996, “A Study of Fragmentation Processes Using a Discrete Element Method
,” Comput. Meth. Appl. Mech. Eng.
, 138
, pp. 3
–18
.18.
McDowell
, G. R.
, and Harireche
, O.
, 2002, “Discrete Element Modelling of Soil Particle Fracture
,” Géotechnique
, 52
(2
), pp. 131
–135
.19.
Potyondy
, D. O.
, and Cundall
, P. A.
, 2004, “A Bonded-Particle Model for Rock
,” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min.
, 41
(8
), pp. 1329
–1364
.20.
Shimizu
, H.
, Koyama
, T.
, Ishida
, T.
, Chijimatsu
, M.
, Fujita
, T.
, and Nakama
, S.
, 2010, “Distinct Element Analysis for Class II Behavior of Rocks Under Uniaxial Compression
,” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min.
, 4
(2
), pp. 323
–333
.21.
Hentz
, S.
, Daudeville
, L.
, and Donzé
, F.
, 2004, “Identification and Validation of a Discrete Element Model for Concrete
,” J. Eng. Mech.
, 130
(6
), pp. 709
–719
.22.
Wang
, Y.
, and Tonon
, F.
, 2011, “Dynamic Validation of a Discrete Element Code in Modeling Rock Fragmentation
,” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min.
, 48
(4
), pp. 535
–545
.23.
Cheng
, Y. P.
, Nakata
, Y.
, and Bolton
, M. D.
, 2003, “Discrete Element Simulation of Crushable Soil
,” Géotechnique
, 53
(7
), pp. 633
–641
.24.
Belytschko
, T.
, and Black
, T.
, 1999, “Elastic Crack Growth in Finite Elements With Minimal Remeshing
,” Int. J. Num. Meth. Eng.
, 45
(5
), pp. 601
–620
.25.
Bagi
, K.
, 2005, “An Algorithm to Generate Random Dense Arrangements for Discrete Element Simulations of Granular Assemblies
,” Granul. Matter
, 7
(1
), pp. 31
–43
.26.
Ergenzinger
, C.
, Seifried
, R.
, and Eberhard
, P.
, 2010, “Failure of Geomaterials Assessed Using an Extended Discrete Element Method
,” Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Engineering Computational Technology
, B. H. V.
Topping
, J. M.
Adam
, F. J.
Pallarés
, R.
Bru
, and M. L.
Romero
, eds., Valencia, Spain, 14–17 September 2010, Stirlingshire, U.K. Civil-Comp Press
. Paper 136.27.
Ergenzinger
, C.
, Seifried
, R.
, and Eberhard
, P.
, 2011, “A Discrete Element Model to Describe Failure of Strong Rock in Uniaxial Compression
,” Granul. Matter
, 13
(4
), pp. 341
–364
.28.
Gaugele
, T.
, Fleissner
, F.
, and Eberhard
, P.
, 2008, “Simulation of Material Tests Using Meshfree Lagrangian Particle Methods
,” Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
, Part K, [J. Multi-body Dynamics], 222
(4
), pp. 327
–338
.29.
Fleissner
, F.
, 2010, “Parallel Object Oriented Simulation with Lagrangian Particle Methods
,” Dissertation, Schriften aus dem Institut für Technische und Numerische Mechanik der Universität Stuttgart, Band 16. Shaker Verlag, Aachen.30.
Pasimodo, www.itm.uni-stuttgart.de/research/pasimodo/pasimodo_en.php.
31.
Ergenzinger
, C.
, Seifried
, R.
, and Eberhard
, P.
, 2009, “Modelling of Crushable Ballast Using an Extended Discrete Element method
,” Particle-Based Methods: Fundamentals and Applications
, E.
Onate
and D. R. J.
Owen
, eds., International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering
, pp. 134
–137
.32.
Ergenzinger
, C.
, Seifried
, R.
, and Eberhard
, P.
, 2012, “A Discrete Element Model Predicting the Strength of Ballast Stones
,” Comp. Struct
.33.
Martin
, C. D.
, 1993, “The Strength of Massive Lac du Bonnet Granite Around Underground Openings
,” Ph.D. thesis, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.34.
Wawersik
, W. R.
, and Brace
, W. F.
, 1971, “Post-Failure Behavior of a Granite and Diabase
,” Rock Mech. Rock Eng.
, 3
(2
), pp. 61
–85
.35.
Hoek
, E.
, and Brown
, E. T.
, 1997, “Practical Estimates of Rock Mass Strength
,” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min.
, 34
(8
), pp. 1165
–186
.36.
Brady
, B. H. G.
, and Brown
, E. T.
, 2004, Rock Mechanics for Underground Mining
, 3 ed., Kluwer Academic Publishers
, Dordrecht
.37.
Wang
, Y.
, and Tonon
, F.
, 2009, “Modeling Lac du Bonnet Granite Using a Discrete Element Model
,” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min.
, 46
(7
), pp. 1124
–1135
.38.
Hentz
, S.
, Donzé
, F.
, and Daudeville
, L.
, 2004, “Discrete Element Modelling of Concrete Submitted to Dynamic Loading at High Strain Rates
,” Comput. Struct.
, 82
(29-30
), pp. 2509
–2524
.39.
Lekarp
, F.
, Isacsson
, U.
, and Dawson
, A.
, 2000, “State of the Art. I: Resilient Response of Unbound Aggregates
,” J. Transport. Eng.
, 126
(1
), pp. 66
–75
.40.
Lekarp
, F.
, Isacsson
, U.
, and Dawson
, A.
, 2000, “State of the Art. II: Permanent Strain Response of Unbound Aggregates
,” J. Transport. Eng.
, 126
(1
), pp. 76
–83
.41.
Holtzendorff
, K.
, 2003, “Untersuchung des Setzungsverhaltens von Bahnschotter und der Hohllagenentwicklung auf Schotterfahrbahnen
,” (in German), Dissertation
, Technische Universität Berlin
, Berlin
.42.
Cavarretta
, I.
, Coop
, M.
, and O’Sullivan
, C.
, 2010, “The Influence of Particle Characteristics on the Behaviour of Coarse Grained Soils
,” Géotechnique
, 60
(6
), pp. 413
–423
.43.
Stahl
, M.
, and Konietzky
, H.
, 2011, “Discrete Element Simulation of Ballast and Gravel Under Special Consideration of Grain-Shape, Grain-Size and Relative Density
,” Granul. Matter
, 13
(4
), pp. 417
–428
.44.
Lim
, W. L.
, McDowell
, G. R.
, and Collop
, A. C.
, 2004, “The Application of Weibull Statistics to the Strength of Railway Ballast
,” Granul. Matter
, 6
(4
), pp. 229
–237
.45.
Weibull
, W.
, 1951, “A Statistical Distribution Function of Wide Applicability
,” ASME J. Appl. Mech.
, 18
(3
), pp. 293
–297
.46.
Shipway
, P. H.
, and Hutchings
, I. M.
, 1993, “Fracture of Brittle Spheres Under Compression and Impact Loading. I. Elastic Stress Distributions
,” Philos. Mag. A
, 67
(6
), pp. 1389
–1404
.47.
Fairhurst
, C.
, and Cook
, N. G. W.
, 1966, “The Phenomenon of Rock Splitting Parallel to the Direction of Maximum Compression in the Neighbourhood of a Surface
,” Proceedings of the First Congress of the International Society of Rock Mechanics
, Lisbon, 25 September – 1 October 1966, vol. 1, pp. 687
–692
.48.
Wawersik
, W. R.
, and Fairhurst
, C.
, 1970, “A Study of Brittle Rock Fracture in Laboratory Compression Experiments
,” Int. J. Rock. Mech. Min.
, 7
, pp. 561
–575
.49.
Russell
, A. R.
, and Muir Wood
, D.
, 2009, “Point Load Tests and Strength Measurements for Brittle Spheres
,” Int. J. Rock Mech. Min.
, 46
(2
), pp. 272
–280
.50.
Jing
, L.
, and Stephansson
, O.
, 2007, Fundamentals of Discrete Element Methods for Rock Engineering: Theory and Applications, Vol. 85 of Developments in Geotechnical Engineering
, Elsevier
, Amsterdam
.51.
Luding
, S.
, 2008, “Cohesive Frictional Powders: Contact Models for Tension
,” Granul. Matter
, 10
(4
), pp. 235
–246
.52.
McDowell
, G. R.
, Lim
, W. L.
, Collop
, A. C.
, Armitage
, R.
, and Thom
, N. H.
, 2004, “Comparison of Ballast Index Test for Railway Trackbeds
,” Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers/Geotechnical Engineering
, 157
(GE3
), pp. 151
–161
.53.
Lim
, W. L.
, 2004. ”Mechanics of Railway Ballast Behaviour
,” Ph.D, thesis, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, U.K.54.
Yang
, L. A.
, Powrie
, W.
, and Priest
, J. A.
, 2009, “Dynamic Stress Analysis of a Ballasted Railway Track Bed During Train Passage
,” J. Geotech. Geoenviron. Eng.
, 135
(5
), pp. 680
–689
.Copyright © 2012
by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
You do not currently have access to this content.
