A New Approach for Numerical Manifold Method

The problem of continuity in the original approach of numerical manifold method is analyzed for the case when high order displacement functions and rectangular meshed are used. A new approach with the fixed mesh is proposed to solve the problem. The rectangular mesh is used and the mathematical mesh is regenerated rather than renewed from the displacements in each time step. The covers, elements and weight functions are given. And the detail sub-matrices of the simultaneous equilibrium equations are derived. The new approach has been verified primarily by analyzing an example of beam bending problem using the new NMM program.