I'm about to get started on my M.S. project, which will focus on dynamic analysis of a Doric Greek temple prototype (I pulled the architectural properties of numerous temples and created something of a "typical" temple for the time period).

My model will consist of stone elements of a single material with no mortar between them, and the blocks will most likely have the same dimensions. Circular columns with equivalent rectangular/square cross sections might be included, although some lit review suggests they won't have much of an impact on the main temple (wall) performance.

Would Abaqus/Explicit be able to conduct a DEM analysis and display the response of the temple with respect to various Greek ground motion records? I want to study the mechanisms that form leading up to and during collapse.

I worried that, as the stone blocks separate, the contact surfaces between them will be lost and the model could blow up. I know the latest release of Abaqus/Explicit includes some DEM capabilities. Can it handle the model I described above?

Thank you in advance for your time!