Photogrammetry and Monte Carlo Simulation based statistical characterization of rock mass discontinuity parameters

Abstract

Discontinuities within the rock mass are present in a wide range of networks. Their characterization and analysis exist with considerable diversity. Prior research appraises the significance of mechanical discontinuities and their effect on geotechnical structures and deficient with integral discontinuities. The variability and uncertainty related to rock mass discontinuity parameters such as spacing, persistence and aperture size cannot be present in a single value; it exhibits variability between specific range values. The use of a statistical method to present the discontinuity parameters provides a basis for Monte Carlo (MC) based stochastic modeling of discontinuity parameters to evaluate the stability of rock mass. The road cut slope of Bukit Merah, Malaysia, was investigated using close-range photogrammetry. Details of high precision rock mass discontinuities (mechanical and integral) parameters such as spacing, persistence and aperture were captured. To evaluate the best fit distribution for discontinuity parameters, Chi-Square test, Modified Kolmogorov Smirnov (K-S) and Anderson-Darling tests were employed. According to the findings, the discontinuity spacing is subjected to a lognormal distribution. In contrast, discontinuity persistence and aperture size followed loglogistic distribution. Furthermore, the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) is a promising approach for assessing the variability and uncertainty of discontinuity parameter relationships.

Keywords

• mechanical discontinuity
• integral discontinuity
• statistical characterization
• monte carlo simulation
• frequency distribution