Discrete Element Method Analysis of Mechanical Properties of Railway Ballast during Tamping Process under Different Amplitude
Railway ballast tamping operations is an important work in the line maintenance and repair operations, the selection of tamping parameter is usually dependent on field trials and practical experience, for the mechanical properties of railway ballast is difficult to measure and describe. This paper creates discrete element analysis model of railway ballast using the discrete element method, the numerical simulations are carried out to study the mechanical properties of railway ballast during tamping process. We focus on the influence of amplitude during tamping process; an optimal amplitude of the simulation analysis is obtained and compared with the recommended amplitude of Plasser & Theurer Company, it is found that the two amplitudes accord. This result verifies the correct validity of the discrete element analysis model of railway ballast during tamping process.