Previously great attention has been given for the quality of the track super structure to improve the overall performance of the railway. Frequent research on the track supporting materials shows a good result which improves the existing overall performance. Good ride quality with high speed, minimum initial construction capital, long life service and low maintenance cost are the issue on the railway technology. Ballast is one of the determinant parts of the railway structure which has great influence on the performance of the railway track. The aim of this project is to assess the different aspects which affect the overall performance on the ballast structure, its material characterization, gradation, failure modes and modelling techniques. Quality based ballast material characteristics investigation and proper selection of ballast gradation with proper modelling methods will lead to an economical, minimum defect, minimum maintenance and replacement cost.

La dégradation géométrique de la voie ballastée sous circulation commerciale nécessite des opérations de maintenance fréquentes et onéreuses. La caractérisation du comportement des pro-cédés de maintenance comme le bourrage, la stabilisation dynamique, est nécessaire pour proposer des améliorations en terme de méthode, paramétrage pour augmenter la pérennité des travaux. La simulation numérique d'une portion de voie soumise à un bourrage ou une stabilisation dynamique permet de comprendre les phénomènes physiques mis en jeu dans le ballast. Toutefois, la complexité numérique de ce problème concernant l'étude de systèmes à très grand nombre de grains et en temps de sollicitation long, demande donc une attention particulière pour une résolution à moindre coût. L'objectif de cette thèse est de développer un outil de calcul numérique performant qui permet de réaliser des calculs dédiés à ce grand problème granulaire moins consommateur en temps. La méthodologie utilisée ici se base sur l'approche Non Smooth Contact Dynamic s(NSCD) avec une discrétisation par Éléments Discrets (DEM). Dans ce cadre, une méthode de dé-composition de domaine (DDM) alliée à une parallélisation adaptée en environnement à mémoire partagée utilisant OpenMP sont appliquées pour améliorer l'efficacité de la simulation numérique. / The track deterioration rate is strongly influenced by the ballast behaviour under commercial traffic. In order to restore the initial track geometry, different maintenance processes are performed, like tamping, dynamic stabilisation. A better understanding of the ballast behaviour under these operations on a portion of railway track is a key to optimize the process, to limit degradationand to propose some concept for a better homogeneous compaction. The numerical simulation isdeveloped here to investigate the mechanical behaviour of ballast. However, the main difficultiesof this research action concerns the size of the granular system simulation increasing both in termof number of grains and of process duration. The purpose of this thesis is to develop an efficient numerical tool allows to realize faster computations devoted to large-scale granular samples. In this framework, the Non-Smooth Contact Dynamics (NSCD) of three-dimensional Discrete ElementMethod (DEM) simulations, improved by Domain Decomposition Method (DDM) and processedwith the Shared Memory parallel technique (using OpenMP) has been applied to study the ballast media mechanics.

The behavior of the ballast particles during their interaction with tamping tines in tamping operation is studied by developing a simulation model using the Discrete Element Model (DEM), with the aim of optimizing the railroad tamping operation. A comprehensive literature review is presented showcasing the applicability of DEM techniques in modeling ballast behavior and its feasibility in studying the fundamental mechanisms that influence the outcome of railroad tamping process is analyzed. The analysis shows that DEM is an excellent tool to study tamping operation as its important and unprecedented insights into the process, help not only to optimize the current tamping practices but also in the development of novel methods for achieving sustainable improvements in the track stability after tamping. The simulation model is developed using a commercially available DEM software called PFC3D (Particle Flow Code 3D). A detailed explanation is provided about how to set up the DEM model of railway ballast considering important parameters like selection and calibration of particle shapes, ballast mechanical properties, contact model, and parameters governing the contact force models. Tamping operation is incorporated into the simulation model using a half-track layout with a highly modular code that enables a high degree of adjustability to allow control of all process parameters for achieving optimized output. A parametric study is performed to find the best values of tine motion parameters to optimize the linear tamping efficiency and a performance comparison has been made between linear and elliptical tamping. It is found that squeeze and release velocity of the tines should be lesser for better compaction of the particles and linear tamping is better compared to elliptical tamping. / Master of Science / Railway track stability is the resistance of the tracks to deformation and is affected by the rail traffic, ballast fouling (contamination of ballast) and the changing environmental conditions. The track stability depends on the normal and frictional support provided by the ballast to the sleepers. Non-uniform ballast consolidation below the railway sleeper results in erratic wheel-rail contact forces, low traffic speeds, poor ride quality, and derailments. Thus, tamping is a railway track maintenance method done periodically on the railway tracks to ensure track stability. Tamping process involves compacting the railroad ballast underneath the sleeper. The sleeper is lifted by a desired height and then vibrating tamping tools called tines are inserted into the ballast below the sleeper to fill the void created by lifting of the sleeper and the sleeper is dropped back on to the ballast. So, it is important to understand the ballast mechanics, dynamics and ballast’s behavioral response to the tamping operation. Since, large scale experiments such as this are difficult, this operation has been simulated in a commercially available software called PFC3D using a Discrete Element Model (DEM) to represent the railway ballast. It is shown through a simulation that though spherical particles provide better computational efficiency, they cannot capture the exact ballast behavior like clumps (a collection of spherical pebbles). So using clumps to represent ballast, efforts are made to optimize the linear tamping efficiency. This is done by changing the values of parameters like tine amplitude, tine frequency, insertion velocity and squeeze velocity and finding their optimum values. Linear tamping results are compared with elliptical tamping. Thus, an optimum tamping cycle would help save money spent on the track maintenance activities.

The development of Discrete Element Model (DEM) of railway ballast for the purpose of studying the behavior of ballast particles during tamping is addressed in a simulation study, with the goal of optimizing the railroad tamping operation. A comprehensive literature review of applicability of DEM techniques in modeling the behavior of railway ballast is presented and its feasibility in studying the fundamental mechanisms that influence the outcome of railroad tamping process is analyzed. A Discrete Element Model of railway ballast is also developed and implemented using a commercially available DEM package: PFC3D. Selection and calibration of ballast parameters, such as inter-particle contact force laws, ballast material properties, and selection of particle shape are represented in detail in the model. Finally, a complete tamping simulation model is constructed with high degree of adjustability to allow control of all process parameters for achieving realistic output. The analysis shows that DEM is a highly valuable tool for studying railroad tamping operation. It has the capability to provide crucial and unprecedented insights into the process, facilitating not only the optimization of current tamping practices, but also the development of novel methods for achieving sustainable improvements in track stability after tamping in the future. Different ways of modeling particle shapes have been evaluated and it has been shown that while using spheres to represent irregular ballast particles in DEM provides immense gains in computational efficiency, spheres cannot intently capture all properties of irregularly shaped particles, and therefore should not be used to model railway ballast particles. Inter-particle and wall-particle contact forces are calculated using Hertzian contact mechanics for determining ballast dynamics during tamping. The results indicate that the model is able to accurately predict properties of granular assemblies of the railway ballast in different test cases. The developed model for simulating tamping operation on a half-track layout is expected to be extended in future studies for evaluating rail track settlement and stability, optimization of tamping process, and performance of different ballast gradations. / MS / Development of a virtual simulation model for the stone bed which forms the foundation of traditional rail track structures is discussed in this study for the purpose of improving a conventional railway maintenance practice called tamping. The stone bed, called ballast, is flexible and is susceptible to undesirable deformation due to the forces from train traffic on the rail tracks over their service time. Therefore, periodic restoration of track structure is performed by tamping to maintain the operational quality of the rail tracks and reduce the risk of train accidents. This simulation model is intended to accelerate the scientific development of the current tamping practices by providing unprecedented insight into the behavior of small stones which form the bulk of the ballast and obviating the requirement for costly physical experimentation. The nuances of the mechanical behavior of ballast have been examined by a comprehensive literature review and the selection of a modeling technique called Discrete Element Modeling (DEM) has been justified for modeling of ballast owing to its suitability in capturing intricate dynamics of ballast stones. The virtual simulation model which is developed as results of this work has been found to be extremely efficient in realistically predicting the outcome of tamping process for any set of conditions of interest. This implies that quality of the rail tracks after tamping can be studied for a variety of different test cases and most optimized set of tamping parameters which results in maximum track quality can be analyzed. However, it was observed that the accuracy of the results obtained from the simulation model is dependent on the level of detail which is used to input properties of the ballast into the model. Low level of detail results in less accurate results whereas a high level of detail takes an unreasonably long time to solve. Therefore, a compromise has to be made between accuracy and solution time while programming the simulation model, and additional work is required in the future to improve the solution speed of the model.

Η συγκεκριμένη διπλωματική εργασία, έγινε με σκοπό την λεπτομερή περιγραφή των τεχνικό-γεωλογικών χαρακτηριστικών που δύναται να ταξινομήσουν τα βραχώδη υλικά, ύστερα από εργαστηριακές δοκιμές και μετρήσεις, ως κατάλληλα ή μη κατάλληλα για την χρησιμοποίησή τους ως αδρανή υλικά. Στην εργασία, γίνεται εκτενής αναφορά στις φυσικές-μηχανικές–χημικές–γεωμετρικές και άλλες ιδιότητες που παρουσιάζουν τα υλικά που μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν ως αδρανή, καθώς επίσης δίνεται και λεπτομερής περιγραφή των εργαστηριακών δοκιμών που διεξάχθηκαν, όπως προβλέπονται από τους Ευρωπαϊκούς Κανονισμούς (ΕΝ) περί καταλληλότητας των αδρανών υλικών που βρίσκονται σε συνάφεια με τις νομοθεσίες του Ελληνικού Κράτους. Η εν λόγω εργασία αναφέρεται στις χρήσεις αδρανών υλικών ως έρμα σιδηροδρομικών γραμμών και οδοποιίας. Εργαστηριακά, η παρακάτω διπλωματική εργασία βασίζεται στην λήψη δείγματος από βραχώδες διαβασικό και ηφαιστειακό υλικό το οποίο εξετάστηκε βάσει των πιο πάνω Ευρωπαϊκών Κανονισμών και στην συνέχεια συγκρίθηκε με τα προβλεπόμενα όρια της κάθε εργαστηριακής δοκιμής που αναφέρονται ως εργαστηριακά όρια χρήσης αδρανών υλικών σε έρμα σιδηροδρομικών γραμμών αλλά και οδοποιίας. Μια επιπλέον πτυχή του θέματος που εξετάζουμε είναι οι λατομικές ζώνες(λατομεία), οι οποίες ορίζονται ως ο χώρος που γίνεται μαζική λήψη υλικού, απευθείας από το υγιές τμήμα της βραχομάζας ,που προορίζεται για χρήση αδρανών υλικών και εξετάζονται οι περιορισμοί που προκύπτουν βάσει της Ελληνικής νομοθεσίας στο εν λόγω ζήτημα και αφορούν άμεσα αστικές και κατοικημένες περιοχές. Όλες οι εργαστηριακές δοκιμές που εκπονήθηκαν για το σκοπό αυτό, έλαβαν χώρα στο εργαστήριο Τεχνικής Γεωλογίας του τμήματος Γεωλογίας του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών. Γίνεται επίσης σύγκριση των εργαστηριακών αποτελεσμάτων με τα αντίστοιχα κατάλληλα όρια. Τέλος, γίνεται γεωμορφολογική και γεωλογική αναφορά της περιοχής του Νομού Κιλκίς, Φλώρινας και Μεθάνων, από όπου πάρθηκαν τα δείγματα και δίνεται μια σύντομη αλλά κατατοπιστική αναφορά στην γεωτεκτονική ζώνη στην οποία ανήκει. / This thesis was aimed at a detailed description of the technical - geological characteristics may classify rocky materials, following laboratory tests and measurements, as suitable or unsuitable for use as aggregates. This paper is a detailed report on the physical - chemical - mechanical - geometric and other properties which are the materials that can be used as aggregates, as well as given and detailed description of the laboratory tests performed as specified by European regulations ( EN ) on suitability of aggregates that are consistent with the laws of the Greek state. This work relates to uses of aggregates as railway ballast and road construction. Laboratory, the following thesis is based on sampling from crossing rocky and volcanic material which was examined under the above European Regulations and then compared with existing limits of each laboratory test referred to as laboratory usage limits aggregates in railway ballast but and odopoiias.Mia additional aspect of the matter is the quarrying areas (quarries), defined as the space is massive samples taken directly from the healthy part of the rock mass, which is intended for use aggregates and examines the constraints arising under Greek law on this issue and directly related urban and residential areas. All laboratory tests carried out for this purpose took place in the laboratory of Engineering Geology, Geology Department, University of Patras. It will also compare the laboratory results with the corresponding appropriate limits. Finally Made geomorphological and geological report of the Prefecture of Kilkis, Florina and methane emissions, from which samples were taken and given a brief but informative reference to tectonic zone to which it belongs.