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A Computer‐Aided Model for the Simulation of Railway Ballast by Random Sequential Adsorption Process
Author(s) -
Benedetto Andrea,
Bianchini Ciampoli Luca,
Brancadoro Maria Giulia,
Alani Amir M.,
Tosti Fabio
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
computer‐aided civil and infrastructure engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.773
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1467-8667
pISSN - 1093-9687
DOI - 10.1111/mice.12342
Subject(s) - ballast , process (computing) , sizing , ground penetrating radar , computer aided , computer science , nondestructive testing , computer aided design , compaction , engineering , radar , mechanical engineering , geotechnical engineering , art , telecommunications , medicine , electrical engineering , visual arts , radiology , operating system
This article presents a computer‐aided multistage methodology for the simulation of railway ballasts using the Random Sequential Adsorption (RSA – 2D domain) paradigm. The primary stage in this endeavor is the numerical generation of a synthetic sample by a “particle sizing and positioning” process followed by a “compaction” process. The synthetic samples of ballast are then visualized in the Computer‐Aided Design (CAD) environment. The outcomes of the simulation are analyzed by comparison with the results of an experimental investigation carried out using a methacrylate container in which real samples of railway ballast are formed. A test of model reliability is carried out between the aggregates number and the grading curves of the synthetic sample and the real one. A validation is therefore performed using the ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) nondestructive testing (NDT) method and the finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) simulation developed in a computer‐aided environment. The results prove the viability and the applicability of the proposed modeling for the assessment of railway ballast conditions.