Discrete Element Method Analysis of Mechanical Properties of Railway Ballast during Tamping Process under Different Vibration Frequency

摘要

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 lack of theoretical basis.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 vibration frequency during tamping process; an optimal vibration frequency of the simulation analysis is obtained and compared with the recommended vibration frequency of Plasser & Theurer Company, it is found that the two vibration frequencies accord.This result verifies the correct validity of the discrete element analysis model of railway ballast during tamping process.