Analysis of microscopic motion and energy evolution of ballast particles by wind-blown sand penetration

IF 4.6 2区工程技术 Q2 ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL

Powder Technology Pub Date : 2025-06-20 DOI:10.1016/j.powtec.2025.121295

Yihao Chi , Hong Xiao , Qiang Liu , Zhihai Zhang , Yingying Chen , Jianbo He , Mahantesh M. Nadakatti

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Abstract

In desert regions, the service life of railways is threatened by wind-blown sand. To investigate the impact of wind-blown sand penetration on the micromechanical behavior and energy evolution of ballast particles, this paper conducted field dynamic testing of the track structure and proposed a new sediment concentration index calculation method. Using the “layered generation-stepwise filling” approach, a series of three-dimensional, multi-scale, high-fidelity discrete element analysis models of sandy ballast beds with different sediment concentrations were developed. The results show that at 33 % sediment concentration, the wheel-rail vertical force and dynamic bending stress of the rail rise by 19.97 % and 11.59 %, respectively, compared to those at 0 % sediment concentration. Sand penetration also modifies system vibration: peak accelerations reach 6.76 g on the rail, 3.89 g on the sleeper, and 0.76 g in the ballast bed, changing by 9.21 %, 22.33 %, and −47.22 %. The translational and rotational kinetic energy of ballast particles both first increase then decrease as sand rises, with 12 % as a critical inflection. This reflects the critical transition between the lubrication effect at the low sediment concentration and the interlocking effect at the high sediment concentration, which warrants particular attention. The potential energy of ballast particles is positively correlated with sediment concentration. When the sediment concentration increases to 33 %, potential energy increases to 996.786 J, representing an 11.37 % increase compared to the 0 % sediment concentration. These results reveal the evolutionary mechanism of sand particle filling, interlocking, and hardening, providing theoretical support for optimizing maintenance strategies for wind-blown sandy railways.

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风沙侵彻压载物颗粒的微观运动及能量演化分析

在沙漠地区，铁路的使用寿命受到风沙的威胁。为研究风沙侵彻对道砟颗粒微观力学行为和能量演化的影响，本文对轨道结构进行了现场动力试验，提出了一种新的含沙量指标计算方法。采用“分层生成-逐级充填”方法，建立了不同含沙量沙质压载层的三维、多尺度、高保真离散元分析模型。结果表明：33%含沙量时，轮轨垂直力和动弯应力分别比0%含沙量时增大19.97%和11.59%；进砂也会改变系统振动：轨道处的峰值加速度为6.76 g，轨枕处的峰值加速度为3.89 g，道床处的峰值加速度为0.76 g，变化幅度分别为9.21%、22.33%和- 47.22%。随着沙粒的增加，压舱物的平动动能和旋转动能先增加后减少，临界拐点为12%。这反映了低含沙量时的润滑作用和高含沙量时的联锁作用之间的临界过渡，值得特别注意。压载颗粒势能与泥沙浓度呈正相关。当含沙量增加到33%时，势能增加到996.786 J，比含沙量为0%时增加11.37%。研究结果揭示了风沙铁路颗粒充填、联锁、硬化的演化机制，为优化风沙铁路养护策略提供了理论支持。

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来源期刊

Powder Technology 工程技术-工程：化工

CiteScore

9.90

自引率

15.40%

发文量

1047

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Powder Technology is an International Journal on the Science and Technology of Wet and Dry Particulate Systems. Powder Technology publishes papers on all aspects of the formation of particles and their characterisation and on the study of systems containing particulate solids. No limitation is imposed on the size of the particles, which may range from nanometre scale, as in pigments or aerosols, to that of mined or quarried materials. The following list of topics is not intended to be comprehensive, but rather to indicate typical subjects which fall within the scope of the journal's interests: Formation and synthesis of particles by precipitation and other methods. Modification of particles by agglomeration, coating, comminution and attrition. Characterisation of the size, shape, surface area, pore structure and strength of particles and agglomerates (including the origins and effects of inter particle forces). Packing, failure, flow and permeability of assemblies of particles. Particle-particle interactions and suspension rheology. Handling and processing operations such as slurry flow, fluidization, pneumatic conveying. Interactions between particles and their environment, including delivery of particulate products to the body. Applications of particle technology in production of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, foods, pigments, structural, and functional materials and in environmental and energy related matters. For materials-oriented contributions we are looking for articles revealing the effect of particle/powder characteristics (size, morphology and composition, in that order) on material performance or functionality and, ideally, comparison to any industrial standard.