ABSTRACT
The existence of discontinuities in rock mass has special importance on the stability of rock engineering structures, directional seepage, diffusion or heat transport, and its treatment in any analysis requires a special attention. This chapter presents some numerical procedures developed for rock masses involving discontinuities, and provides several examples. It explains the solution of fundamental governing equations using the finite element method. There are three approximate methods: Finite difference method (FDM), Finite element method (FEM), and Boundary element method. The finite element method is relatively new, but it is the most widely used method in engineering and science as compared with FDM or other methods. Various types of finite element methods with joint or interface elements, discrete element method, displacement discontinuity analysis, discrete FEM and displacement discontinuity method have been developed so far. Although these methods are mostly concerned with the solution of equation of motion, they can be used for seepage, heat transport or diffusion problems.
