Abstract
We present a novel approach for calibration of stochastic discontinuity network parameters based on genetic algorithms (GAs). To validate the approach, examples of application of the method to cases with known parameters of the original Poisson discontinuity network are presented. Parameters of the model are encoded as chromosomes using a binary representation, and such chromosomes evolve as successive generations of a randomly generated initial population, subjected to GA operations of selection, crossover and mutation. Such back-calculated parameters are employed to make assessments about the inference capabilities of the model using different objective functions with different probabilities of crossover and mutation. Results show that the predictive capabilities of GAs significantly depend on the type of objective function considered; and they also show that the calibration capabilities of the genetic algorithm can be acceptable for practical engineering applications, since in most cases they can be expected to provide parameter estimates with relatively small errors for those parameters of the network (such as intensity and mean size of discontinuities) that have the strongest influence on many engineering applications.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baecher GB, Einstein HH, Lanney NA (1977) Statistical description of rock properties and sampling. In: Wang FD, Clark GB (eds) Energy resources and excavation technology. Proceedings, 18th US symposium on rock mechanics. Colorodo School Mines Press, Golden, 5C1.1–5C1.8
Bonnet E, Bour O, Odling N, Davy P, Main I, Cowie P, Berkowitz B (2001) Scaling of fracture systems in geological media. Rev Geophys 39(3):347–383
Cai MF, Wang P, Zhao K, Zhang D (2005) Fuzzy C-means cluster analysis based on genetic algorithm for automatic identification of joint sets. Chin J Rock Mech Eng 24(3):371–376
Cravero M, Piana F, Ponti S, Tallone S, Balestro G, Morelli M (2006) Analysis of fracture patterns constrained by suitable geological model. In: Yale D, Holtz S, Breeds C, Ozbay U (eds) Proceedings of the 41st US Rock Mechanics Symposium. American Rock Mechanics Association, Golden, CO
Cui LJ, Sheng DC (2005) Genetic algorithms in probabilistic finite element analysis of geotechnical problems. Comput Geotech 32:555–563
Decker J, Mauldon M (2006) Determining size and shape of fractures from trace data using a differential evolution algorithm. In: Yale D, Holtz S, Breeds C, Ozbay U (eds) Proceedings of the 41st US Rock Mechanics Symposium. American Rock Mechanics Association, Golden, CO
Dershowitz W, Carvalho J (1996) Key-block tunnel stability analysis using realistic fracture patterns. In: Aubertin M, Hassani F, Mitri HS (eds) Proceedings of the 2nd North American rock mechanics symposium; NARMS ’96, a regional conference of ISRM; Rock mechanics tools and techniques. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 1747–1751
Dershowitz WS, Einstein HH (1988) Characterizing rock joint geometry with joint system models. Rock Mech Rock Eng 21(1):21–51
Dershowitz WS, Herda HH (1992) Interpretation of fracture spacing and intensity. In: Tillerson JR, Wawersik WR (eds) Rock mechanics; Proceedings of the 33rd US symposium Rock mechanics. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 757–766
Dowd PA, Martin JA, Xu C, Fowell RJ, Mardia KV (2009) A three-dimensional fracture network data set for a block of granite. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 46:811–818
Fahd A, Jimenez R (2008) A genetic algorithm for identification of slip surfaces with minimum reliability. In: Proceedings of the 12th international conference on computer methods and advances in geomechanics (IACMAG-2008), pp 1612–1618
Goldberg DE (1989) Genetic algorithm in search, optimization, and machine learning. Addison-Wesley, Reading
Goodman RE (1976) Methods of geological engineering in discontinuous rocks. West, St. Paul
Guan Z, Jiang Y, Tanabashi Y (2009) Rheological parameter estimation for the prediction of long-term deformations in conventional tunnelling. Tunnell Underground Space Technol 24(3):250–259
Hudson JA, Harrison JP (1997) Engineering rock mechanics: an introduction to the principles, 1st edn. Pergamon, Tarrytown
Jimenez R (2008) Fuzzy spectral clustering for identification of rock discontinuity sets. Rock Mech Rock Eng 41(6):929–939. ISSN: 0723–2632. doi:10.1007/s00603-007-0155-6
Jimenez-Rodriguez R, Sitar N (2006a) Inference of discontinuity trace length distributions using statistical graphical models. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 43(6):877–893
Jimenez-Rodriguez R, Sitar N (2006b) A spectral method for clustering of rock discontinuity sets. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 43(7):1052–1061. ISSN: 1365–1609. doi:10.1016/j.ijrmms.2006.02.003
Jimenez-Rodriguez R, Sitar N (2008) Influence of stochastic discontinuity network parameters on the formation of removable blocks in rock slopes. Rock Mech Rock Eng 41(4):563–585
Kemeny J, Post R (2003) Estimating three-dimensional rock discontinuity orientation from digital images of fracture traces. Comput Geosci 29:65–77
Kulatilake P, Wathugala DN, Stephansson O (1993) Joint network modelling with a validation exercise in Stripa Mine, Sweden. Int J Rock Mech Mining Sci Geomech Abstr 30(5):503–526
Kulatilake P, Wu TH (1986) Relation between discontinuity size and trace length. In: Hartman HH (ed) Rock mechanics; proceedings of the 27th US symposium. A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 130–133
Kulatilake PHSW, Um J-G, Wang M, Escandon RF, Narvaiz J (2003) Stochastic fracture geometry modeling in 3-D including validations for a part of Arrowhead east tunnel, California, USA. Eng Geol 70(1–2):131–155
Kuszmaul JS (1999) Estimating keyblock sizes in underground excavations: accounting for joint set spacing. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 36(2):217–232
La Pointe PR (1993) Pattern analysis and simulation of joints for rock engineering. In: Hudson JA (ed) Comprehensive rock engineering, rock testing and site characterization, vol 3. Pergamon, Oxford, pp 215–239
La Pointe PR, Wallmann PC, Dershowitz WS (1993) Stochastic estimation of fracture size through simulated sampling. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 30(7):1611–1617
Lee JS, Veneziano D, Einstein HH (1990) Hierarchical fracture trace model. In: Hustrulid WA, Johnson GA (eds) Rock mechanics; contributions and challenges; proceedings of the 31st US symposium, A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 261–268
Levasseur S, Malecot Y, Boulon M, Flavigny E (2008) Soil parameter identification using a genetic algorithm. Int J Numer Anal Methods Geomech 32(2):189–213
Levasseur S, Malecot Y, Boulon M, Flavigny E (2010) Statistical inverse analysis based on genetic algorithm and principal component analysis: applications to excavation problems and pressuremeter tests. Int J Numer Anal Methods Geomech 34:471–491
Lyman GJ (2003a) Rock fracture mean trace length estimation and confidence interval calculation using maximum likelihood methods. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40:825–832
Lyman GJ (2003b) Stereological and other methods applied to rock joint size estimation—does crofton’s theorem apply? Math Geol 35(1):9–23
Mauldon M (1998) Estimating mean fracture trace length and density from observations in convex windows. Rock Mech Rock Eng 31(4):201–216
Meyer T, Einstein HH (2002) Geologic stochastic modeling and connectivity assessment of fracture systems in the Boston area. Rock Mech Rock Eng 35(1):23–44
Mitchell M. (1996) An introduction to genetic algorithms. MIT Press, Cambridge
Munier R (2004) Statistical analysis of fracture data, adapted for modelling discrete fracture networks—version 2. Technical Report, SKB Rapport R-04-66; ISSN 1402-3091, The Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB), Stockholm, Sweden. http://www.skb.se/upload/publications/pdf/R-04-66webb.pdf. Accessed 03 Aug 2011
Pahl PJ (1981) Estimating the mean length of discontinuity traces. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 18(3):221–228
Park H, West TR (2001) Development of a probabilistic approach for rock wedge stability. Eng Geol 59:233–251
Park H-J, West TR, Woo I (2005) Probabilistic analysis of rock slope stability and random properties of discontinuity parameters, Interstate Highway 40, Western North Carolina, USA. Eng Geol 79(3–4):230–250
Priest SD (2004) Determination of discontinuity size distributions from scanline data. Rock Mech Rock Eng 37(5):347–368
Simpson AR, Priest SD (1993) The application of genetic algorithms to optimisation problems in geotechnics. Comput Geotech 15(1):1–19
Song JJ, Lee CI, Seto M (2001) Stability analysis of rock blocks around a tunnel using a statistical joint modeling technique. Tunnell Undergr Space Technol 16(4):341–351
Starzec P, Andersson J (2002) Probabilistic predictions regarding key blocks using stochastic discrete fracture networks: example from a rock cavern in south-east Sweden. Bull Eng Geol Environ 61(4):363–378
Tokhmechi B, Memarian H, Moshiri BB, Rasouli V, Noubari H (2011) Investigating the validity of conventional joint set clustering methods. Eng Geol 118(3–4):75–81
Tonon F, Chen S (2007) Closed-form and numerical solutions for the probability distribution function of fracture diameters. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 44:332–350
Villaescusa E, Brown ET (1992) Maximum likelihood estimation of joint size from trace length measurements. Rock Mech Rock Eng 25(2):67–87
Xue J-F, Gavin K (2007) Simultaneous determination of critical slip surface and reliability index for slopes. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng (ASCE), 133(7):878–886
Zhang L, Einstein HH (1998) Estimating the mean trace length of rock discontinuities. Rock Mech Rock Eng 31(4):217–235
Zhang L, Einstein HH, Dershowitz WS (2002) Stereological relationship between trace length and size distribution of elliptical discontinuities. Géotechnique 52(6):419–433
Zhang LY, Einstein HH (2000) Estimating the intensity of rock discontinuities. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 37(5):819–837
Zolfaghari AR, Heath AC, McCombie PF (2005) Simple genetic algorithm search for critical non-circular failure surface in slope stability analysis. Comput Geotechn 32:139–152
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jimenez, R., Jurado-Piña, R. A Simple Genetic Algorithm for Calibration of Stochastic Rock Discontinuity Networks. Rock Mech Rock Eng 45, 461–473 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-012-0226-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-012-0226-1