Improved K-Means Clustering Analysis on Discontinuity Orientations of Rock Mass

The analysis of dominant orientations of discontinuities is a fundamental work for a further evaluation of the stability of rock mass.By traditional plot methods such as isopycnic diagram and rose diagram,we can only obtain a simple classification of the orientations,but the exact dominant orientations of every set cannot be acquired.An improved K-means clustering algorithm is proposed.The orientations of discontinuities are represented by their unit normal vectors,and the included acute angle between two discontinuities is taken as their similarity measure.Data investigated from a rock slope of a quarry is used as a case study.The results of K-means clustering algorithm are reliable and reasonable.This method can give the accurate dominant orientations of every set.