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Deformation behaviour of gap-graded fouled ballast evaluated by a 3D discrete element method

  • Geotechnical Engineering
  • Published:
KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Aims and scope

Abstract

The ballast fouling has been identified as a challenging issue in ballasted railway tracks due to huge maintenance costs. In this research, the deformation characteristics of gap-graded fouled ballast were studied from laboratory experiments and a Discrete Element Method (DEM). The fouled ballasts were prepared with different values of a fouling index, FI p. After the packing behaviour of fouled ballasts was studied by density tests, the stress-strain behaviour of them was studied from triaxial compression tests under both dense and loose states. It was found that the void ratio decreases with FI p up to 50%, then it increases with FI p. The results also indicate that the strain-hardening behaviour of ballast is weakened when fouled by FI p ≥ 30%. The DEM simulation by clump particles produce a similar stress-strain behaviour as the laboratory specimens than their spherical counterparts. The results also reveal that the dilation behaviour of ballast is deteriorated significantly when fouled by FI p > 50%. The peak frictional angle indicates that the strength properties of ballast are deteriorated significantly when fouled by FI p ≥ 30%. Therefore, we recommend that fouled ballast should be treated by a maintenance application when ballast is fouled by FI p > 30%.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Civil Engineering, Tokyo University of Science, 2641, Yamazaki, Noda, Chiba, 278-8510, Japan

    Janaka J. Kumara & Yoshiaki Kikuchi

  2. Dept. of Urban Innovation, Yokohama National University, 79-5, Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, 240-8501, Japan

    Kimitoshi Hayano

Authors
  1. Janaka J. Kumara
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  2. Kimitoshi Hayano
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  3. Yoshiaki Kikuchi
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Correspondence to Janaka J. Kumara.

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Kumara, J.J., Hayano, K. & Kikuchi, Y. Deformation behaviour of gap-graded fouled ballast evaluated by a 3D discrete element method. KSCE J Civ Eng 20, 2345–2354 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-015-0377-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-015-0377-1

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