Belief estimation of rockmass mechanical parameters based on evidence theory

Based on a mathematical theory of evidence and considering the uncertainty of rockmass mechanical parameters, a new method for belief estimation of rockmass mechanical parameters was presented, by which the frame of discernment of rockmass mechanical parameters was established. In consideration of different degrees of belief for many testing evidences of rockmass mechanical parameters, their total degree of belief was obtained with the Dempster Shafer rule of combination. The basic probability assignments, belief functions, plausibility functions of rockmass mechanical parameters were given, and the belief estimation of rockmass mechanical parameters were determined with the defined functions similar to probabilistic properties. An example shows that the method applied in mining engineering for analysis and selection of rockmass mechanical parameters has obtained a satisfactory results.