Structural Analysis of Salt Cavities Formed by Solution Mining: II. Time-Dependent Behavior of Progressively-Mined Cavities of Different Shapes under Arbitrary Initial Stress Fields

摘要

Objectives are to demonstrate that the stress state and flow around a cavity are sensitive to details of the excavation process and to the prevailing initial in situ stress state, and to compare the stress and displacement results for cavities of different shapes. A numerical algorithm is chosen which will allow for the simultaneous construction and creep of a cavity. The self-equilibrating initial stress field is chosen to represent the in situ stresses. A number of examples involving cavities of different shapes are presented which illustrate the importance of the excavation simulation on the azimuthal stress distribution around the cavity and the influence of the tectonic stresses on creep behavior. 25 figures. (ERA citation 03:041776)