A HYBRID DISCRETE-CONTINUUM APPROACH TO MODEL HYDROMECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF JOINTED ROCKS

A hybrid discrete-continuum approach has been presented in this paper to simulate water flow in the near and far fields of deformable fractu red rocks. In the near field, the discrete model is used: while in the far field, the equivalent continuum model is employed. The discrete e lement method (with the static relaxation algorithm) is used in the ne ar field and the boundary integral equation method in the far field. A long the interface of these two domains, both mechanical and hydraulic compatibility conditions are satisfied. Fully coupled hydro-mechanica l analysis can be conducted in the combined near and far fields. Appli cation to a dam foundation problem has demonstrated the capability of the developed approach. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.