The Prediction of Compressive Strength of Sedimentary Rock using the Artificial Neural Networks

Abstract

A evaluation for the strength of rock includes a lot of uncertainty due to existence of discontinuity surface and weakness plain in the rock mass, so essential test results and other data for the resonable strength analysis are absolutely insufficient. Therefore, a analytical technique to reduce such uncertainty can be required. A probabilistic analysis technique has mainly to make up for the uncertainty to investigate the strength of rock mass. Recently, a artificial neural networks, as a more newly analysis method to solve several problems in the existing analysis methodology, trends to apply to study on the rock strength. In this study the unconfined compressive strength from basic physical property values of sedimentary rock, black shale and red shale, distributed in Daegu metropolitan area is estimated, using the artificial neural networks. And the applicability of the analysis method is investigated. From the results, it is confirmed that the unconfined compressive strength of the sedimentary rock can be easily and efficiently predicted by the analysis technique with the artificial neural networks.