Interval uncertainty analysis of a confined aquifer.

Water inflow forecast is influenced by many factors and yields uncertain results. To more accurately predict the magnitude of water inflow and quantitatively define the corresponding response in the parameter change interval, this study combined a non-probabilistic set theory and uncertainty analysis to derive an equation for the confined water inflow. Using mining area data and comparing the calculation of upper and lower boundary limits obtained by a Monte Carlo method, results of the confined water inflow equation were calculated with relative errors of 5% and 10%. When corresponding to the rate of change of the variable parameter, the results showed that under the same error conditions, the allowable rate of change when calculating the minimum value using Eq. A was greater than when using Eq. B, and the maximum value using Eq. B yielded a greater allowable rate of change than the maximum value calculated by Eq. A. Thus, the obtained rate of change for Eq. A is indicative of the lower limit, and Eq. B is conducive to the calculation of the upper limit of mine water inflow.