Vertex　displacement-based　discontinuous　deformation　analysis(DDA)　was　recently　proposed　to　avoid　the　demerits　caused　by　the　original　degree　of　freedom　in　DDA,　but　the　current　formulations　developed　by　using　the　shape　functions　in　polygonal　finite　element　method　have　an　unacceptable　computational　efficiency.　To　remedy　this　issue,　a　new　formulation　of　DDA,　utilizing　VEM　to　define　an　individual　displacement　space　and　to　calculate　the　potential　energy　for　a　block,　and　adopting　original　DDA　to　detect　and　analyze　the　contacts　between　blocks,　is　developed.　The　matrix　expression　for　the　block　potential　energy　is　mathematically　deduced,　and　then　the　global　equilibrium　equations　of　the　block　system　are　derived　based　on　the　principle　of　minimum　potential　energy.　A　sliding　block　model　is　employed　to　determine　the　values　of　the　multipliers　in　the　approximations　of　the　elastic　deformation　energy　and　the　inertial　force　energy.　The　validity　and　computational　efficiency　of　the　new　formulation　are　testified　by　three　examples.　Results　show　that　the　new　formulation　is　capable　to　restrain　the　false　volume　expansion　when　simulating　large　rotation　and　to　ensure　the　precision　of　the　contact　analysis.　Most　of　all,　the　new　formulation　has　a　higher　computational　efficiency　than　the　existing　formulations　of　vertex　displacement-based　DDA.　©　2022,　Science　Press.　All　right　reserved.