Abstract
The discrete element method (DEM) and finite element method (FEM) coupling algorithm were introduced into the analysis of interface stress between railway ballast bed and soil subgrade. The point cloud data of irregular shape ballast sample were obtained by 3D-laser scanning. A new particle shape simplification method based on local curvature was proposed to simplify the point cloud and retain the main properties of edges and angularities, which can improve the calculation efficiency in DEM. Then, interface element was established between the interlayer boundaries of ballast bed and subgrade, and consequently the DEM and FEM were dynamically coupled through exchanging the data of forces and velocities between those two layers within each time step. Thus, the DEM-FEM coupling model of ballasted track-subgrade was established, and it had been validated with the indoor model test results measured by tactile sensor. The calculation results were also compared with those got by the earth pressure cell. The results show that: The distribution of contact stress between ballast and subgrade was highly discrete. The average value of interface stress obtained by the tactile sensor and the DEM-FEM coupling model were close, and they were both about two times larger than that measured by the earth pressure cell. According to the result of the coupling model, the high-concentrated interface stress of the subgrade decreased rapidly with the depth. When it was over 0.1 m below the subgrade interface, the interface stress could decay by more than 80%.
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Xiao, J., Zhang, D., Zhang, X. (2022). Analysis of Contact Stress at Ballast Bed-Soil Subgrade Interface Under Cyclic Loading Based on Coupled DEM-FEM. In: Tutumluer, E., Nazarian, S., Al-Qadi, I., Qamhia, I.I. (eds) Advances in Transportation Geotechnics IV. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 165. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-77234-5_29
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