a Department of Applied Sciences, University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, Saguenay, QC, Canada
b SNC-Lavalin, Montreal, Canada
2024, 16(2): 345-364. doi:10.1016/j.jrmge.2023.09.011
Received: 2023-01-13 / Revised: 2023-06-18 / Accepted: 2023-09-18 / Available online: 2023-12-09
2024, 16(2): 345-364.
doi:10.1016/j.jrmge.2023.09.011
Received: 2023-01-13
Revised: 2023-06-18
Accepted: 2023-09-18
Available online: 2023-12-09
Geomechanical parameters of intact metamorphic rocks determined from laboratory testing remain highly uncertain because of the great intrinsic variability associated with the degrees of metamorphism. The aim of this paper is to develop a proper methodology to analyze the uncertainties of geomechanical characteristics by focusing on three domains, i.e. data treatment process, schistosity angle, and mineralogy. First, the variabilities of the geomechanical laboratory data of Westwood Mine (Quebec, Canada) were examined statistically by applying different data treatment techniques, through which the most suitable outlier methods were selected for each parameter using multiple decision-making criteria and engineering judgment. Results indicated that some methods exhibited better performance in identifying the possible outliers, although several others were unsuccessful because of their limitation in large sample size. The well-known boxplot method might not be the best outlier method for most geomechanical parameters because its calculated confidence range was not acceptable according to engineering judgment. However, several approaches, including adjusted boxplot, 2MADe, and 2SD, worked very well in the detection of true outliers. Also, the statistical tests indicate that the best-fitting probability distribution function for geomechanical intact parameters might not be the normal distribution, unlike what is assumed in most geomechanical studies. Moreover, the negative effects of schistosity angle on the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) variabilities were reduced by excluding the samples within a specific angle range where the UCS data present the highest variation. Finally, a petrographic analysis was conducted to assess the associated uncertainties such that a logical link was found between the dispersion and the variabilities of hard and soft minerals.
Keywords: Intact rock parameters, Natural variabilities, Outlier detection methods, Uncertainties, Westwood mine, Mineralogy
Behzad Dastjerdy
Behzad Dastjerdy is a PhD candidate in Civil Engineering at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC), Canada. He earned his MSc degree from the University of Zanjan, Iran, in 2015 and his BSs degree from the University of Kerman, Iran, in 2012. Since 2021, Behzad has served as a research assistant at UQAC. He is a member of the Canadian Geotechnical Society. Specializing in the stability of underground excavations, rock mass characterization, and numerical modeling, Behzad's current research is focused on assessing the impact of geomechanical parameters of metamorphic rocks on rockburst occurrences. His contributions to reputable journals and conferences highlight his expertise in various areas, including stability analysis of segmental metro tunnels, TBM tunnelling, geomechanical analysis of metamorphic rocks, and the characterization of in situ stress in the Canadian Shield.