Numerical Manifold Method and Its Application in the Study of Crustal Movements in the Sichuan-Yunnan Area

The numerical manifold method (NMM) can calculate the movements and deformations of structures or materials. Both the finite element method (FEM) for continua and the discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) for block systems are special cases of NMM. NMM has separate mathematical covers and physical meshes: the mathematical covers define only fine or rough approximations; as the real material boundary, the physical mesh defines the integration fields. The mathematical covers are triangle units; the physical mesh includes the fault boundaries, joints, blocks and interfaces of different crust zones on the basis of a geological tectonic background. Aiming at the complex problem of continuous and discontinuous deformation across the Chinese continent, the numerical manifold method (NMM) is brought in to study crustal movement of the Sichuan-Yunnan area. Based on the GPS velocity field in the Sichuan-Yunnan area, a crustal strain and stress field is simulated and analyzed. Moreover, results show that the NMM is a more suitable method than DDA in simulating the movement of the Sichuan-Yunnan area. Finally, a kind of mechanism of crustal motion in the Sichuan-Yunnan area is discussed in the paper.