A new joint element for the analysis of media having discrete discontinuities

A homogenization technique is applied to develop a new interface or joint element for the finite element analysis of media having discrete or instantaneous discontinuities such as rock masses including a finite number of joints, soil–structure and soil–reinforcement interface, localised shear cracks, etc. The joint or crack is treated as an inclusion in the media. Using an average rule, the influence to the joint is smeared into a small region of the adjacent intact material. The constitutive model in the region is defined in terms of constitutive properties of both the intact media and the joint as well as the geometry of the homogenized domain. The proposed element has been implemented in a finite element program and its performance has been compared with that of standard continuum finite elements. The results of numerical analysis are virtually insensitive to the thickness of the homogenized region, which is the main advantage of this technique over other conventional joint elements. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.