A coupling model of 3-D discontinuous deformation analysis (3-D DDA)‎ and finite element method

Abstract EN

Neither the finite element method nor the Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (DDA) method can solve problems very well in rock mechanics and engineering due to their extreme complexities.

In this paper, the Three- Dimensional Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (3-D DDA) is derived, based on finite element meshes to enhance 3-D DDA’s capabilities of modeling a deformable block.

The formulations of the equilibrium equations in 3-D DDA with finite element meshed block system due to elastic stress, initial stress, point load, fixed point, inertia force, and normal contact force are extended by incorporating the conventional eight-node hexahedron isoparametric elements.

Two illustrative examples are presented to show the improvement achieved by use of finite element in association with 3-D DDA to handle problems under large displacements and deformations.

The calculated results show close agreement with the theoretical solutions.