SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES HAVE BEEN MADE RECENTLY IN THE DISCRETE ELEMENT METHOD FOR THE ANALYSIS OF DYNAMIC EFFECTS ON UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES, VESSELS IN ICE INFESTED WATERS AND IN THE GENERAL SOLUTION OF DISCONTINUUM AND FRACTURING OF STRUCTURAL BODIES UPON

SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES HAVE BEEN MADE RECENTLY IN THE DISCRETE ELEMENT METHOD FOR THE ANALYSIS OF DYNAMIC EFFECTS ON UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES, VESSELS IN ICE INFESTED WATERS AND IN THE GENERAL SOLUTION OF DISCONTINUUM AND FRACTURING OF STRUCTURAL BODIES UPON IMPACT. THE METHOD HAS UNIQUE ADVANTAGES OVER THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD PARTICULARLY FOR DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF UNDERGROUND EXCAVATIONS IN ROCK. CURRENTLY THE USE OF THE DISCRETE ELEMENT METHOD IS LIMITED DUE TO ITS HEAVY USE OF COMPUTER RESOURCES ESPECIALLY FOR LARGE THREE DIMENSIONAL PROBLEMS. IT IS PROPOSED TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF FORMULATING A PARALLEL PROCESSOR ALGORITHM FOR THE DISCREET ELEMENT METHOD. THE METHOD HAS PARTICULAR ADVANTAGES TO MASSIVE PARALLELISM COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS SYSTEMS. QUANTIFICATION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF SUCH AN ALGORITHM IS PROPOSED TO BE SIMULATED BY SCHEDULING TECHNIQUES WITHOUT IMPLEMENTING EITHER HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE.