NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF DISCONTINUOUS BLOCK SYSTEMS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUMERICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, 11-15 APRIL 1988, INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA. VOLUMES 1 - 3

A numerical model is presented for the analysis of discontinuous systems formed by parallelepiped blocks. It can be of application to such problems as rubblemound breakwaters or severally jointed rock masses. The unit blocks are considered as rigid with concentrated deformations at their contacts. The block-by-block placement process is simulated. Friction and no-traction limits at the contacts are considered leading to global and local instabilities. The analysis is carried out in two dimensions. (Author/TRRL)