Developing a hybrid model of information entropy and unascertained measurement theory for evaluation of the excavatability in rock mass

In geotechnical engineering, excavation process is affected by many factors, so that the evaluation of the excavatability is a difficult task in the field. In order to have a better equipment selection and minimize the excavation cost, it seems that there is a need to develop a more accurate evaluation model for excavatability. In this paper, a hybrid model based on unascertained measurement and information entropy is proposed to assess the excavatability of rock mass in specific area. The developed model differs from other available evaluation methods; the former is able to keep objective in the whole calculation process. In order to achieve aims of this study, five groups of data including cuttability, rippability, drillability, blastability and diggability were collected from the literature to test the performance of the developed model. The single-index measurement values were calculated through the linear, parabolic, exponential and sine membership functions, and the weights of evaluation indices were determined by information entropy theory. Besides, the criterion of credible degree (R-ec) ranging from 0.5 to 0.7 was able to provide some information influenced by differentR(ec)to the evaluation results. Findings revealed that the hybrid model of unascertained measurement and information entropy can be introduced as an accurate and applicable tool in the field of excavation as it showed a high efficient level in model assessment.

Automated summary

This study proposes a hybrid model based on unascertained measurement and information entropy to assess the excavatability of rock mass in a specific area. The model utilizes data from five different sources and calculates single-index measurement values, while determining the weights of evaluation indices. The results indicate that the model can be introduced as an accurate and applicable tool in the field of excavation.