A　three-node　triangular　element　fitted　to　numerical　manifold　method　with　continuous　nodal　stress,　called　Trig3-CNS　(NMM)　element,　was　recently　proposed　for　linear　elastic　continuous　problems　and　linear　elastic　simple　crack　problems.　The　Trig3-CNS　(NMM)　element　can　be　considered　as　a　development　of　both　the　Trig3-CNS　element　and　the　numerical　manifold　method　(NMM).　Inheriting　all　the　advantages　of　Trig3-CNS　element,　calculations　using　Trig3-CNS　(NMM)　element　can　obtain　higher　accuracy　than　Trig3　element　without　extra　degrees　of　freedom　(DOFs)　and　yield　continuous　nodal　stress　without　stress　smoothing.　Inheriting　all　the　advantages　of　NMM,　Trig3-CNS　(NMM)　element　can　conveniently　treat　crack　problems　without　deploying　conforming　mathematical　mesh.　In　this　paper,　complex　problems　such　as　a　crucifix　crack　and　a　star-shaped　crack　with　many　branches　are　studied　to　exhibit　the　advantageous　features　of　the　Trig3-CNS　(NMM)　element.　Numerical　results　show　that　the　Trig3-CNS　(NMM)　element　is　prominent　in　modeling　complex　crack　problems.