ABSTRACT
Combined continuum-interface methods and discrete element techniques explicitly simulate discontinuous surfaces, using special joint elements (quasi-continuum of small thickness) (Goodman et al., 1968; Zienkiewicz et al., 1970), discrete springs (Hermann, 1978; Frank et al., 1982), and contact considerations (Francavilla & Zienkiewicz, 1975; Sachdeva & Ramakrishnan, 1981).
