Discrete element representation of continua: Proof of concept and determination of the material parameters

This paper describes the requirement for new computational methods for the modelling of fracture mechanics. First of all a proof of the described method will be shown. Then two examples are presented in order to verify the Discrete Element Method. Furthermore it will be shown how the corresponding material parameters are gained and implemented and how the boundary conditions have to be modelled in order to achieve exact results for the stress and strain fields of 2D shells.