Impact statement: Through realistic modeling of the particulate nature of ballast behavior, this research is aimed at providing better engineering insight into the designs of ballasted track and manufactured tie for improving the safety and network reliability of the AAR member railroads.

A large portion of the annual budget to sustain the railway track system goes into maintenance and renewal of track ballast. A better basic understanding of the ballast behavior is essential for mitigating track problems and failures due to ballast breakdown, powdering, and fouling; ballast deformation and degradation due to compaction and repeated loading; and ballast lateral movement and instability causing track buckle. The primary objective of this project is to apply discrete element modeling (DEM) concepts to railroad ballast and study conditions needed to: (1) improve ballast strength, stability, and resistance to lateral and permanent deformations, (2) minimize ballast fouling and deterioration; and (3) improve manufactured crosstie design.