Thermal Effects on Deformability and Strengths of Maha Sarakham Salt

Abstract

A multi-axial strength criterion is developed to describe the distortional strain energy density of rock salt at failure as a function of the mean strain energy.  The temperature effect on salt strength is implicitly considered by incorporating empirical relations between the elastic parameters and temperatures of the tested specimens.  The proposed criterion agrees well with the test results obtained under temperatures ranging from 273 to 467 Kelvin.  The proposed criterion is useful and practical for a conservative determination of the stability of compressed-air or gas storage caverns where the surrounding salt is subject to fluctuation of temperatures during product injection and withdrawal periods.