ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the process of carrying out numerical predictions. In an attempt to provide guidance, Lambe described the process of carrying out numerical simulations and called it the anatomy of prediction. The first step in any numerical analysis is to describe the field situation, which is composed of the object of interest and its surrounding environment. It is rarely possible to answer all the questions with a single analysis and a list of potential scenarios must be generated. A certain level of idealisation and interpretation is required. Once the object of interest and the prevailing mechanisms are defined, a computational method needs to be selected. This introduction also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book aims to provide guidance on the use of the material point method (MPM) for geotechnical engineering.
