Post by Alireza Ahmadi

🚄 I’m thrilled to share that my latest research has been published in the prestigious journal #Computers_and_Geotechnics 🎉 “Dynamic vehicle–track interaction and differential settlement in a transition zone on railway ballast—An integrated 3D discrete–continuum model” 🎥 You can see the simulation video in #YouTube: 👉 https://lnkd.in/dE_KZDYj This work introduces a fully coupled 3D DEM–FDM–FEM framework that bridges the gap between particle-scale mechanics and system-level railway performance. The model captures how #stiffness_transitions and #dynamic_vehicle_loading lead to #track_degradation and #differential_settlement , critical issues affecting long-term #maintenance and #safety. 🧠 The simulations were carried out using ITASCA Consulting’s #PFC and #FLAC software, enabling a detailed coupling between discrete and continuum domains to realistically simulate the evolution of ballast behaviour and track response. What makes this study exciting is the strong collaboration between KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Division of Soil and Rock Mechanics) and Chalmers University of Technology (CHARMEC – Chalmers Railway Mechanics). Together, we combined expertise in #geotechnics, #dynamics, and #railway_engineering to simulate real-world behaviour in unprecedented detail. The paper offers valuable insights for those working in railway infrastructure design, maintenance, and asset management, emphasizing how a gradual stiffness variation can mitigate long-term degradation in #transition_zones. 💡 The research was financially supported by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket), whose contribution was essential in advancing this work toward practical applications in railway infrastructure design and maintenance. 📖 Read the full open-access article: Computers and Geotechnics, Vol. 190 (2026), Article 107737 https://lnkd.in/ddSkJHPZ A big thank you to my co-authors Dr. Kourosh N., Professor Jens Nielsen, and Professor Jelke Dijkstra for an excellent collaboration and inspiring discussions throughout this project. I would also like to thank my supervisors Professor Stefan Larsson and Dr. Carl Wersäll for their support throughout this research project.  #RailwayEngineering #Infrastructure #DEM #FEM #FDM #KTHSoilAndRock

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