Chapter 13 - Discrete element modeling

Discrete element models (DEMs) have become a major tool for masonry analysis, allowing a suitable representation of its discontinuous nature and marked nonlinear behavior. This chapter reviews the fundamental assumptions of the main DEM formulations available. It focuses more specifically on the widely used Universal Distinct Element Code and 3DEC codes, explaining their relation with the other approaches, and the most relevant issues arising in their application to masonry. Applications to the main types of structures are reviewed, considering both static and dynamic analyses. Recent research providing comparisons of the numerical models with experimental and field data is also covered. The discussion of the different examples is aimed at clarifying the key capabilities of DEM and demonstrating the most effective ways of using it in a variety of masonry analysis situations.