Bayesian Methods for Geotechnical Applications-A Practical Guide

Bayes' theorem provides a basis for merging information from various sources, which may lead to uncertainty reduction. The application of Bayesian methods in geotechnical engineering, however, is often hindered by the required computational skills. This paper introduces five computational techniques for Bayesian inference, and illustrates them in detail with geotechnical examples. Detailed formulations of these techniques and source codes for implementing them are provided herein so that interested readers can get hand-on experiences applying these techniques. Four real-world examples are provided to illustrate how the Bayesian methods can be applied in geotechnical practice. A possible misuse of the Bayesian methods in geotechnical engineering is also discussed.