# Ripples and Grains Segregation on Unpaved Road

## TL;DR

This study uses computational simulations to analyze the formation of ripples and grain segregation on unpaved roads, revealing how wheel properties influence corrugation patterns and how grain size dispersion affects segregation.

## Contribution

It introduces a DEM-based model to simulate ripple formation and grain segregation, highlighting the effects of wheel parameters and grain size distribution.

## Key findings

- Wheel size, weight, and speed affect ripple amplitude and wavelength.
- Specific wheel speeds correlate with certain ripple wavelengths.
- Higher grain size dispersion enhances segregation effects.

## Abstract

Ripples or corrugations are common phenomena observed in unpaved roads in less developed countries or regions. They cause several damages in vehicles leading to increased maintenance and product costs. In this paper, we present a computational study about the so-called washboard roads. Also, we study grain segregation on unpaved roads. Our simulations have been performed by the Discrete Element Method (DEM). In our model, the grains are regarded as soft disks. The grains are subjected to a gravitational field and both translational and rotational movements are allowed. The results show that wheels' of different sizes, weights and moving with different velocities can change corrugations amplitude and wavelength. Our results also show that some wavelength values are related to specific wheels' speed intervals. Segregation has been studied in roads formed by three distinct grain diameters distribution. We observed that the phenomenon is more evident for higher grain size dispersion.