Discrete element modelling of ballast abrasion

For granular materials subjected to cyclic loading, permanent axial strain accumulates linearly with the logarithm of the number of load cycles (Barksdale, 1972). Shenton (1974) showed this to be true for ballast subjected to cyclic loading in a triaxial test, and that the response of the ballast becomes approximately resilient after approximately 1000 cycles.

Figure 1 (McDowell et al., 2005) shows the set-up of a box test for ballast, in which the box has a length of 700 mm, width of 300 mm and height of 450 mm, used to simulate loading on a section of...