Three-dimensional back-analysis of displacements in exploration adits - Principles and application

Abstract Back-analysis from displacements has been attracting the interest of the rock engineering profession in recent years. It has been applied since its inception in the 1970’s because of its instinctive practical value to the designer. In this paper we discuss the principles and application of one feasible method, that of Three-dimensional displacement Back-Analysis (TBA), which is used to back analyze the modulus of elasticity ( E ) of the rock mass and the horizontal component ( P ) of rock stress mainly by means of displacements measured during the the excavation of an exploratory geological adit. An attempt is also being made to solve the problem of unique resolution of TBA.