ABSTRACT
Salt reconsolidation mechanics have been investigated by means of several experimental procedures over time, with increasing sophistication and test parameter control. Improvements in laboratory techniques as well as test-to-test comparisons have enabled a more complete analysis of test data and understanding of the consolidation processes than possible from earlier work. Interpretation of the effects of temperature, stress, moisture, and test techniques are vital to repository-relevant application of laboratory results. The all-important regimes of low strain rates and low stress magnitudes have now been explored in numerous laboratory experiments. These studies clearly show that the presence of small amounts of moisture greatly facilitates the consolidation process.
