Engineering Rock Mechanics

Interadions 233

First level audit:

Variables and components

x, , x2 ,...... x n

...

Second level audit:

System operation

m ->

output

&

rhird level audit:

Monitoring and back analysis

ZomDonents

Figure 14.1 Stages in the technical auditing of rock mechanics modelling and rock

engineering design.

Third-level audit
The third step is to monitor the actual operation of the system (the labor-
atory test, the in situ test, the construction process, the longer-term beha-
viour) which is the rock reality and compare the results with those indic-
ated by the second step, as indicated in the lower part of the diagram. In
this step, it is also advantageous to use back analysis procedures.

Currently, there is no formal requirement for technical auditing of

either rock mechanics modelling or rock engineering design. Quality

Assurance (QA) procedures are in use, but these refer only to the correct

execution of the work, given specified site investigation, modelling and

construction procedures. If critical components are missing from the

modelling, and hence the rock engineering design, following a QA