Analysis of mesoscopic mechanical dynamic characteristics of ballast bed with under sleeper pads

Abstract

The meso-dynamical behaviour of a high-speed rail ballast bed with under sleeper pads (USPs) was studied. The geometrically irregular refined discrete element model of the ballast particles was constructed using 3D scanning techniques, and the 3D dynamic model of the rail–sleeper–ballast bed was constructed using the coupled discrete element method–multi-flexible-body dynamics (DEM–MFBD) approach. We analyse the meso-mechanical dynamics of the ballast bed with USPs under dynamic load on a train and verify the correctness of the model in laboratory tests. It is shown that the deformation of the USPs increases the contact area between the sleeper and the ballast particles, and subsequently the number of contacts between them. As the depth of the granular ballast bed increases, the contact area becomes larger, and the contact force between the ballast particles gradually decreases. Under the action of the elastic USPs, the contact forces between ballast particles are reduced and the overall vibration level of the ballast bed can be reduced. The settlement of the granular ballast bed occurs mainly at the shallow position of the sleeper bottom, and the installation of the elastic USPs can be effective in reducing the stress on the ballast particles and the settlement of the ballast bed.

Keywords

Under sleeper pads / Ballast bed / Discrete element method / Mesoscopic mechanical dynamic characteristics

References

[1.] Zhai WM, Wang KY, Lin JH. Modelling and experiment of railway ballast vibrations. J Sound Vib, 2004, 270(4–5): 673-683,

[2.] Zhai W, Han Z, Chen Z, et al.. Train–track–bridge dynamic interaction: a state-of-the-art review. Veh Syst Dyn, 2019, 57(7): 984-1027,

[3.] Anderson WF, Key AJ. Model testing of two-layer railway track ballast. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng, 2000, 126(4): 317-323,

[4.] Wang L, Zhao Z, Wang J, et al.. Mechanical characteristics of ballast bed under dynamic stabilization operation based on discrete element and experimental approaches. Shock Vib, 2021, 202: 66276121

[5.] Liu J, Wang P, Liu G, et al.. Influence of a tamping operation on the vibrational characteristics and resistance-evolution law of a ballast bed. Constr Build Mater, 2020, 239,

[6.] Giunta M, Bressi S, D’Angelo G. Life cycle cost assessment of bitumen stabilised ballast: a novel maintenance strategy for railway track-bed. Constr Build Mater, 2018, 172: 751-759,

[7.] Augustin S, Gudehus G, Huber G, et al.. Numerical model and laboratory tests on settlement of ballast track. System dynamics and long-term behavior of railway vehicles, track and subgrade, 2003 Berlin, Heidelberg Springer 317-336,

[8.] Abadi T, Le Pen L, Zervos A, et al.. A review and evaluation of ballast settlement models using results from the southampton railway testing facility (SRTF). Procedia Eng, 2016, 143: 999-1006,

[9.] Yu Z, Connolly DP, Woodward PK, et al.. Settlement behaviour of hybrid asphalt–ballast railway tracks. Constr Build Mater, 2019, 208: 808-817,

[10.] Wang B, Martin U, Rapp S. Discrete element modeling of the single-particle crushing test for ballast stones. Comput Geotech, 2017, 88: 61-73,

[11.] Aela P, Wang J, Yousefian K, et al.. Prediction of crushed numbers and sizes of ballast particles after breakage using machine learning techniques. Constr Build Mater, 2022, 337,

[12.] Nguyen TT, Indraratna B, Kelly R, et al.. Mud pumping under railtracks: mechanisms, assessments and solutions. Aust Geomech J, 2019, 54(4): 59-80

[13.] Qiu J, Liu H, Lai J, et al.. Investigating the long-term settlement of a tunnel built over improved loessial foundation soil using jet grouting technique. J Perform Constr Facil, 2018, 32(5): 04018066,

[14.] Alves Ribeiro C, Paixão A, Fortunato E, et al.. Under sleeper pads in transition zones at railway underpasses: numerical modelling and experimental validation. Struct Infrastruct Eng, 2015, 11(11): 1432-1449,

[15.] Orosz Á, Zwierczyk PT (2020) Analysis of the stress state of a railway sleeper using coupled FEM–DEM simulation. In: 34th International ECMS Conference on Modelling and Simulation, ECMS 2020, 9–12 June 2020, Berlin. Proceedings of ECMS 2020, 31(1): 261–265

[16.] 16. Venuja S, Navaratnarajah SK, Wickramasinghe THVP, et al (2020) A laboratory investigation on the advancement of railway ballast behavior using artificial inclusions. In: ICSBE 2020. Lecture notes in civil engineering. Springer, Singapore, pp 47–55

[17.] Kraśkiewicz C, Oleksiewicz W, Płudowska-Zagrajek M, et al (2018) Testing procedures of the under sleeper pads applied in the ballasted rail track systems. In: MATEC Web of Conferences. EDP Sciences, 2018, 196: 02046

[18.] Esmaeili M, Shamohammadi A, Farsi S. Effect of deconstructed tire under sleeper pad on railway ballast degradation under cyclic loading. Soil Dyn Earthq Eng, 2020, 136,

[19.] Ngamkhanong C, Kaewunruen S. Effects of under sleeper pads on dynamic responses of railway prestressed concrete sleepers subjected to high intensity impact loads. Eng Struct, 2020, 214,

[20.] Jayasuriya C, Indraratna B, Ngoc Ngo T. Experimental study to examine the role of under sleeper pads for improved performance of ballast under cyclic loading. Transp Geotech, 2019, 19: 61-73,

[21.] Mottahed J, Zakeri JA, Mohammadzadeh S. Field and numerical investigation of the effect of under-sleeper pads on the dynamic behavior of railway bridges. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part F J Rail Rapid Transit, 2018, 232(8): 2126-2137,

[22.] Navaratnarajah SK, Indraratna B, Ngo NT. Influence of under sleeper pads on ballast behavior under cyclic loading: experimental and numerical studies. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng, 2018, 144(9): 04018068,

[23.] Ngo T, Indraratna B. Mitigating ballast degradation with under-sleeper rubber pads: experimental and numerical perspectives. Comput Geotech, 2020, 122,

[24.] Sol-Sánchez M, Moreno-Navarro F, Rubio-Gámez MC. Viability of using end-of-life tire pads as under sleeper pads in railway. Constr Build Mater, 2014, 64: 150-156,

[25.] Kaewunruen S, Aikawa A, Remennikov AM. Vibration attenuation at rail joints through under sleeper pads. Procedia Eng, 2017, 189: 193-198,

[26.] Li H, McDowell GR. Discrete element modelling of under sleeper pads using a box test. Granul Matter, 2018, 20(2): 26,

[27.] Zbiciak A, Kraśkiewicz C, Sabouni-Zawadzka AA, et al.. A novel approach to the analysis of under sleeper pads (USP) applied in the ballasted track structures. Materials, 2020, 13(11): 2438,

[28.] Paixão A, Varandas JN, Fortunato E, et al.. Numerical simulations to improve the use of under sleeper pads at transition zones to railway bridges. Eng Struct, 2018, 164: 169-182,

[29.] Krishnamoorthy RR, Saleheen Z, Effendy A, et al.. The effect of rubber pads on the stress distribution for concrete railway sleepers. IOP Conf Ser: Mater Sci Eng, 2018, 431,

[30.] Li X, Nielsen JCO, Torstensson PT. Simulation of wheel–rail impact load and sleeper–ballast contact pressure in railway crossings using a Green’s function approach. J Sound Vib, 2019, 463,

[31.] Qu X, Ma M, Li M, et al.. Analysis of the vibration mitigation characteristics of the ballasted ladder track with elastic elements. Sustainability, 2019, 11(23): 6780,

[32.] Sussmann TR, Ruel M, Chrismer SM. Source of ballast fouling and influence considerations for condition assessment criteria. Transp Res Record: J Transp Res Board, 2012, 2289(1): 87-94,

[33.] Chen C, Luo QT, Yang C, et al.. Study on differential settlement of bridge-subgrade transition section using DEM–MBD coupling method. China Railw Sci, 2022, 43(3): 69-77 (in Chinese)

[34.] Xiao H, Zhang Z, Chi Y, et al.. Structural analysis and parametric study ballasted track in sandy regions. Constr Build Mater, 2022, 333,

[35.] Senetakis K, Payan M, Li H, et al.. Nonlinear stiffness and damping characteristics of gravelly crushed rock: developing generic curves and attempting multi-scale insights. Transp Geotech, 2021, 31,

[36.] Shi C, Chen Z. Coupled DEM/FDM to evaluate track transition stiffness under different countermeasures. Constr Build Mater, 2021, 266,

[37.] Guo Y, Wang J, Markine V, et al.. Ballast mechanical performance with and without under sleeper pads. KSCE J Civ Eng, 2020, 24(11): 3202-3217,

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(51565021)