ABSTRACT
Computational strategies in the context of combined discrete/finite element methods for effective modeling of large scale practical problems involving multiple fracture and discrete phenomena are reviewed in the present work. The issues considered include: (1) Generation of random packing of discrete objects with different shapes and sizes; (2) Detection procedures for monitoring contact between large numbers of discrete elements; (3) Interaction laws governing the response of contact pairs; (4) Fracture criteria and propagation mechanisms within both the finite and discrete elements, together with mesh adaptivity procedures for discretization and introduction of fracture systems; (5) Parallel implementation. The applicability of the methodology developed is illustrated through selected practical examples.
