Some new developments about safety analysis and mechanical behaviour of salt cavities

A non-linear strength function in dependence of the minimum principle stress and the stress geometry, and the on continuum damage mechanics based creep model Hou/Lux recently developed by Hou (1997) and Hou & Lux (1998), waren applied to proof and analysis of safety for caverns in saliniferous formations. Because the material model Hou/Lux takes into account the influences from minimum stress, the coefficient of utilization, the stress geometry and dilatancy, the results regarding the ratio between time-to-rupture, strain intensity as well as coefficient of utilization and minimum stress are qualitatively plausible. An example is given for the bearing behavior of a salt cavern.