Coupled time domain integration algorithm for numerical manifold method

A temporal coupled explicit-implicit time integration algorithm is proposed to improve the computational efficiency of the numerical manifold method (NMM) for seismic stability analysis of rock slope. It includes a coupled time integration scheme, a phase transfer criterion, and an associated contact algorithm. To calibrate the proposed algorithm, a block sliding along a slope under seismic excitation and a block rocking under half-sine pulse shaking are simulated. The traditional limit equilibrium method (LEM) for slope stability analysis determines the factor of safety (FoS) without considering the time-dependent effect. The developed algorithm is able to simulate jointed rock slope seismic stability taking advantage of the NMM for continuous and discontinuous deformation analysis. An open-pit mine slope excited by the El Centro earthquake wave is studied. The simulated results are in good agreement with the results based on the traditional NMM, whereas the computational efficiency is improved significantly. The proposed coupled time integration algorithm has the potential to be applied to larger engineering problems to save computational cost.