Simulating the propagation of displacement discontinuities in a regularized strain-softening medium

A numerical model is developed which allows the inclusion of displacement discontinuities in a strainsoftening medium, independent of the :nite element mesh structure. Inelastic deformations develop in the continuum and, when a critical threshold of inelastic deformation is reached, a displacement discontinuity is inserted. Discontinuities are introduced using the partition of unity concept which allows discontinuous functions to be added to the standard :nite element basis. It is shown that the introduction of displacement discontinuities at the later stages of the failure process can lead to a failure mode that is fundamentally di