Comparison of intact rock failure criteria using various statistical methods

This paper compares four different rock failure criteria based on triaxial test data of ten different rock strength data using various statistical methods. Least square, least median square and re-weighted least square techniques are used to determine the best fit parameters utilizing the experimental data that describes the failure state for each criterion. The least median square method could identify the scattered data and these scattered data points are observed at higher confining stress. It was observed that the fitting of failure criteria to different rock strength data depends upon the statistical methods used. The prediction of unconfined compressive strength and failure strength for different rocks estimated using various statistical methods are discussed in terms of different statistical performances of the prediction.