Prediction of dilation and permeability changes in rock salt

A numerical procedure has been developed for predicting dilation (porosity) and gas permeability changes in rock salt. The hierarchical single-surface constitutive model of Desai and co-workers is used a finite element program to calculate the state of stress and strain surrounding excavations in rock salt. The elastoplastic constitutive model accounts for strain hardening, a non-associative volumetric response and stress-path-dependent behaviour. The calculated stress and strain fields are used in a flow model based on the equivalent channel concept to predict permeability. Parameters for both the mechanical and permeability models are developed from laboratory test results. Two field experiments adjacent to underground excavations are modelled. The extent of the dilated rock zone around the excavation is predicted well, but the magnitude of the porosity and gas permeability is underpredicted very near the excavations. This discrepancy is attributed to model parameters derived from loading-only laboratory tests, whereas significant unloading occurs in the field. The shape of the yield surface was found to be an important factor in dilation and permeability predictions. Similar stress, strain and permeability fields were obtained with different model types (plane strain or axisymmetric) and initial stress states, and with instantaneous and progressive excavation.     

Mechanical Tests on Pervasively Jointed Rock Material: Insight into Rock Mass Behaviour

Summary In the exploration phase for the design of an underground cavern in a limestone formation a large number of triaxial compression tests were carried out on laboratory specimens which were characterized by a variable degree of fracturing. The data were analyzed to investigate the influence of fracture intensity and of confining stress on the mechanical parameters. In particular, investigations focused on the relationships between the parameters of the strength criteria, respectively in residual and peak conditions, on the decay of the Young modulus with stress level in the prepeak phase of the test, and on the brittleness of the rock in the postpeak phase. The tested rock can be considered as a small-scale model of a jointed rock mass, and the laboratory data therefore provide useful insight into the mechanical behaviour of rock masses, especially the relationships between residual and peak strength parameters, which are required in many analytical models and in numerical codes for the analysis of underground excavations.     

层状盐岩中储备库油气渗漏风险的故障树分析

油气渗漏是盐岩地下储备库事故的重要类型之一,具有突发性强、损失难以估计的特点。针对国内层状盐岩中储备库运营过程中的油气渗漏风险进行分析,揭示了油气渗漏事故的发生机制并建立了相应的故障树模型。通过对该模型的分析,找出了事故发生的各基本致因事件和故障模式,并得出适用于典型层状盐岩储备库油气渗漏事故的发生概率公式。分析结果表明,国内层状盐岩中储备库发生油气渗漏事故的可能故障模式有28种,且发生条件易于满足而难于防范,因此事故发生的可能性较大;按照各基本事件结构重要度的计算结果,盐岩强度低、盐岩蠕变过量、附近有断层、地震、造腔参数控制不当、非均匀地应力、人为操作失误等是层状盐岩中储备库油气渗漏事故的主要致因事件,并据此提出有效措施防止事故发生;通过专家调查法和故障树法的综合分析得出,金坛盐矿5口老腔储库在近10年的运营期内发生油气渗漏事故的概率为0.703%,属于偶发性事故。     

超大跨度深埋地下结构围岩压力计算研究

围岩压力是地下结构设计与施工的重要依据。新建京张城际铁路八达岭车站拟定备选方案之一的单拱超大跨设计方案中,最大的跨度近45 m。对于类似超大跨度的深埋地下结构,传统的围岩压力理论与经验计算方法都存在着明显的局限性,已经不再适用。而结合现场勘查资料和室内外试验成果的数值模拟方法,尽管可以得到相对精确的围岩压力计算结果,但存在着计算过程复杂、计算效率低下的不足。因此,在计算分析了多种传统围岩压力计算方法与数值模拟方法获得的围岩压力所存在差异的基础上,对Q系统的围岩压力公式引入跨度项进行了修正,从而获得了能够快速估算超大跨度深埋地下结构围岩压力的估算方法。最后对不同跨度工程的围岩压力进行估算,并与监测值进行比较,对比结果良好。该方法不仅可以为工程设计人员及现场工作人员提供设计计算依据,还可为相关研究人员提供理论参考。     

Discontinuous behaviour near excavations in a bedded salt formation

Summary Discontinuous behaviour is being observed and measured in the vicinity of excavations constructed in a bedded salt formation 650 m below ground surface for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Facility. The 2 m thick salt layer in the immediate roof acts as a beam, shearing along a thin overlying anhydrite/clay seam. Vertical separations between the immediate roof layer and the overlying strata are often observed at the anhydrite/clay seam above the centre of excavations of larger span (11 m). The floor of the excavations is comprised of a 1 m thick salt layer underlain by a 1 m thick predominately anhydrite layer (referred to as MB139). Fractures in MB139 develop beneath most excavations, with increased fracture frequency with drift span and age. In the excavations of larger span (11 m), MB139 eventually debonds along the underlying clay layer. The salt layer overlying MB139 develops both shear and tension failure. In a few locations below excavations of large span, continuous fracture systems are developing from rib to rib through MB139 and the overlying salt. In the ribs, there is limited fracturing within the first metre of most larger excavations. Vertical fractures develop in pillars at most intersections. The discontinuous behaviour is qualitatively consistent with analyses of the formation behaving as a layered medium (elastic beam analysis) and limited tensile and compressive failure of the rock salt. The significance of the discontinuous behaviour is that it can dominate the effective fluid transport properties of the formation near the excavation, and therefore requires consideration in the design of repository seals. Discontinuous behaviour must be monitored and is an important factor in the maintenance programme designed to assure a safe underground environment.     

错动带对超大型地下洞室群围岩稳定影响研究

贯穿白鹤滩水电站地下洞室群的层间错动带是发育于各岩流层顶部凝灰岩层中的缓倾角、贯穿性的错动构造。受不同地质构造作用的影响,在错动带内部形成夹碎裂岩和泥岩不同构造。由于其内部构造相对复杂,因此,其力学行为的描述也较为困难。为了直观合理地揭示其力学特性,将该地质构造考虑为一种上下接触,中间夹软弱带的“夹心饼干”结构。在现场试验的基础上,借助FLAC分析其力学特性,将获得的规律和计算参数应用到地下洞室群的围岩稳定分析中,利用抗剪强度极限平衡原理分析加强支护对错动带稳定的影响。     

Rock Mass Stability Investigation Around Tunnels in an Underground Mine in USA

Stability and deformation of rock masses around tunnels in underground mines play significant roles on the safety and efficient exploitation of the ore body. Therefore, understanding of geomechanical behavior around underground excavations is important and necessary. In this study, a three-dimensional numerical model was built and stress analyses were performed by using 3DEC software for an underground mine in USA using the available information on stratigraphy, geological structures and mechanical properties of rock masses and discontinuities. Investigations were conducted to study the effect of the lateral stress ratio (K₀), material constitutive models, boundary conditions and rock support system on the stability of rock masses around the tunnels. Results of the stress, displacement, failure zone, accumulated plastic shear strain and post-failure cohesion distributions were obtained for these cases. Finally, comparisons of the deformation were made between the field deformation measurements and numerical simulations.     

地下隧洞开挖和支护的三维数值分析计算

根据地下工程锚固支护原理,采用隐含锚杆柱单元的三维有限元和混凝土喷锚支护的三维数值计算方法,对复杂的地下泄洪隧洞的开挖和支护进行了分析计算。该方法不仅能够有效地反映锚杆的长度、密度、倾角对洞室开挖的影响,而且能够较好地模拟钢拱架和锚杆的时间施加效应。由于隐含锚杆柱单元和喷层单元是隐含在岩体单元中的,所以锚杆和喷层单元不受岩体单元划分的影响,能够有效地模拟各种支护方案,加快计算速度,合理反映锚固支护所作用的位置和时间影响。通过对构皮滩泄洪洞施工开挖和锚固支护的模拟计算,论证了施工开挖的稳定性和锚杆、喷层、钢拱架的支护作用,提出了洞室结构的加固措施,为工程施工开挖提供了有效的设计依据。     

Experimental Investigation of Non-Darcy Flow in Sandstone

A study was conducted to investigate non-Darcy flow for sandstone using an experimental system designed and constructed by the research group. Non-Darcy flow was found to exist for both the pre-peak and post-peak strains; post-peak flow behavior showed a higher level of non-Darcy flow. In addition, the post peak permeability turned out to be about 2–3 times that of the pre-peak permeability. This sudden change in permeability that occurs when sedimentary rock masses around underground excavations develop new fractures may lead to water inrush in coal mines. All three non-Darcy permeability parameters showed significant changes between the pre-peak and post peak strains. The main reason for that is the formation of new cracks around and after the peak stress. Relations are developed among the three non-Darcy permeability parameters.     

盐岩储气库运营期失效概率分析研究

随着能源地下储备的日益迫切需求,越来越多的盐岩地下储库开始投入使用。盐岩地下储库因其良好的使用功能,愈发被世界各国所采用。因此,对盐岩储气库运营期的安全稳定性研究具有重要的理论意义和工程应用价值。运营期间,储库腔体将受到随时间变化的储气内压的作用,同时,客观存在的诸多不确定性因素不可避免地使盐岩地下储库具有一定的风险性,而由于这种不确定性很难采用确定性方法对其进行研究。以金坛盐岩地下储气库为例,基于有限元软件ANSYS,建立储气库运营期腔体内压-时间历程曲线,对储气库长期流变进行了瞬态力学分析,并基于随机力学分析方法,以体积收缩作为风险控制指标,利用ANSYS-PDS得出储气库在整个运营期失效概率的变化规律。计算表明,在周期性变化的储气内压作用下,腔体位移呈波浪线形不断增长,但增幅逐渐降低;同时,储气库失效概率呈现先慢速增长再快速增长最后逐渐趋于稳定的变化规律。探讨了注采气速率对储气库稳定性的影响,适当降低注采速率可抑制腔体收缩,有利于提高储气库的稳定性。对类似盐岩储库运营期风险分析与评估具有借鉴意义。     

Role of Acoustic Emission for Solving Rock Engineering Problems in Indonesian Underground Mining

In situ stress measurement is not well accepted yet in Indonesia due to the unavailability of technology, high costs and because it is impractical in remote regions. Alternatively, the Kaiser effect of acoustic emission (AE) can be used as a method for determining the stress-state at depth, without creating induced stress and is practical in remote areas. This paper is focused on the development of the AE test. The research has started to study the phenomenon of stress memory in a rock sample, the factors influencing the phenomenon, and finally, to determine the in situ stresses around underground excavations by applying the AE method. It is expected that knowledge in gaining the most important input parameters for maintaining the stability of underground excavations can be well understood and be reliably conducted at a reasonable cost.     

基于一种脆性指标确定岩石残余强度

岩石的残余强度是岩石力学的重要指标,准确地评价岩石残余强度对于评价地下工程的稳定性以及优化岩体支护设计具有重要意义。基于岩石的三轴力学特性提出一种表征岩石峰后强度衰减行为的力学指标--岩石强度衰减系数,该指标可反映岩石的脆性程度,并提出岩石强度衰减系数与围压关系的幂函数模型。对22组不同成因的岩石常规三轴压缩试验数据进行幂函数模型参数拟合,发现不同岩石拟合所得参数离散性较大,分析其原因主要与岩石矿物组成和岩石结构特征等因素相关。在此基础上提出基于强度衰减方法确定岩石残余强度的方法,分析表明,该方法能够很好地拟合岩石残余强度试验数据,并能反映岩石结构性质对残余强度的影响。     

某水电站地下厂房洞室群围岩稳定分析

采用有限元方法反演某水电站地下厂房厂区初始地应力场。采用Zienkiewicz-Pande的双曲线屈服准则,对某水电站地下厂房洞室群的开挖过程进行了三维弹塑性有限元模拟。为反映锚固支护对围岩的加固作用和评价地下厂房洞室群支护参数的合理性,提出了可以考虑抗剪作用的隐式锚杆单元和可以考虑预应力效果隐式锚索单元。计算结果表明,该洞室群在洞室布局、开挖顺序和支护参数等方面是合理的,各主要洞室群的稳定性总体较好。     

Analysis of the behavior of large underground oil storage caverns in salt rock

The storage of petroleum products above ground surface has many constraints and limitations. A viable alternative is to excavate large underground spaces in rock to provide a safer way for oil storage. Soft rock formations such as salt domes provide suitable conditions from environmental and operational aspects. The potential for high volume storage and low permeability are among advantages of oil storage in caverns excavated in salt rocks. The complicated shape of oil storage caverns, complex behavior of salt rock, and boundary conditions associated with large underground openings are major challenges in the design of salt caverns excavated for oil storage purposes. In this study, the deformation mechanism and stability of salt caverns were investigated. A comprehensive 3D numerical study was carried out to investigate the effects of cavern size and depth, salt rock deformation modulus, and ground in‐situ stress regime on the behavior of large salt caverns. The stress field and deformation mechanisms were studied numerically aiming at shedding lights into the design aspects of salt caverns for oil storage. The analysis results show that the cavern safety factor is reduced as a function of cavern depth and storage volume. Also, with decrease in k (ratio of horizontal to vertical in‐situ stress), the stability of salt caverns will increase; however, with increase in salt rock young modulus, the sensitivity of cavern stability to k ratio is reduced. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental study of mechanical and hydraulic properties of bedded rock salt from the Jintan location

A series of triaxial compression tests, triaxial extension tests, and triaxial compression creep tests were conducted to evaluate the strength, deformability, and permeability of rock salt from the Jintan location. Based on a previous analysis, the measured data can be physically modeled very well as shown by the constitutive model Hou/Lux and indicate that China’s representative bedded rock salt from the Jintan location is characterized by good ductility and deformation properties, similar to the European high-purity rock salt. Based on a comparison of compression as well as extension failure strength determined at rock salt from Jintan location, a similarity of compression and extension failure strength could be demonstrated. Permeation flow seems to be an anisotropic process because the permeability measured at samples prior to failure by compression tests differs to those measured at samples prior to failure by extension tests. The anisotropy of damage and destruction of rock salt has a significant influence on permeability. In case of triaxial compression tests, the measured permeability increases two to six orders of magnitude because of consistent direction of injection and cracks. In case of triaxial extension tests, however, the permeability increases less with a maximum of two orders in magnitude. The test results are significant for understanding the load-bearing behavior of rock salt from Jintan location and investigations with reference to the stability and tightness of underground caverns.     

Numerical analysis of the failure process around a circular opening in rock

Damage and fracture propagation around underground excavations are important issues in rock engineering. The analysis of quasi-brittle materials can be performed using constitutive laws based upon damage mechanics. The finite element code RFPA2D (Rock Failure Process Analysis) based on damage mechanics was used to simulate a loading-type failure process around an underground excavation (model tunnel) in brittle rock. One of the features of RFPA2D is the capability of modeling heterogeneous materials. In the current model, the effect of the homogeneous index (m) of rock on the failure modes of a model tunnel in rock was studied. In addition, by recording the number of damaged elements and the associated amount of energy released, RFPA2D is able to simulate acoustic activities around circular openings in rock. The results of a numerical simulation of a model tunnel were in very good agreement with the experimental test using the acoustic emission technique. Finally, the influence of the lateral confining pressure on the failure mechanism of the rock around the model tunnel was also investigated by numerical simulations.     

薄层状盐岩地下储气库工程地质条件及可行性分析

地下盐穴储气库安全性是蓄气运行的关键地质问题.针对平顶山盐田盐层薄、夹层多以及埋藏深等特征,从薄层状盐岩的渗透性、流变性以及稳定性3个方面,详细讨论了储气库的地质可储性及地面沉降问题.首先采集了纯盐岩、互层状盐岩、泥岩夹层3种岩石试样,分别进行了电镜扫描和不同应力水平下的三轴压缩蠕变试验,并应用CYT法对试验区进行了深部盐岩溶腔的探测.鉴于试验区多个采井影响区的重叠,地面沉降量实际监测结果比较复杂,绝对值偏小但具有波动性.综合上述地质特征,作出了平顶山地下盐穴储气库地质条件良好的结论,为我国同类工程提供一定的实际参考.     

Modeling the Effects of Heterogeneity and Anisotropy on the Excavation Damaged/Disturbed Zone (EDZ)

Summary  When modeling the mechanical behavior of underground excavations, it is necessary to include the influence of the rock mass characteristics on the Excavation Damaged/Disturbed Zone (EDZ). In this paper, the Realistic Failure Process Analysis code, RFPA, is used to model the extent of the EDZ. The inhomogeneous characteristics of rock at the mesoscopic level are included by assuming that the material properties of the constituent elements conform to a Weibull distribution; the anisotropy is incorporated as a transversely isotropic medium; the non-elastic characteristic is simulated via an elastic damage-based constitutive law. A finite element program is adopted as the basic stress analysis tool. In this study, a notable feature is that no a priori assumptions need to be made about where and how fracture and failure will occur – cracking can take place spontaneously and can exhibit a variety of mechanisms when certain local stress conditions are met. The deformation and failure process of anisotropic rock around excavations of different geometries is analyzed, and compared to experimental tests, showing similar fracture patterns. Additionally, the effect of confining stress and of different material layers is modeled and discussed. It is found that the model clearly illustrates that fracturing, both initiation and propagation, occurs as a combination of the stress concentrations and weakness planes introduced via the transverse anisotropy – which could represent either foliations or ubiquitous joint sets. Correspondence: Dr. Shuhong Wang, Box 265, School of Resource and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110004, P.R. China     

盐岩储气库运营期时变可靠度计算及风险分析

盐岩是一种典型的流变性材料,其蠕变特性对建于其中的储库稳定性具有重要影响,储库可靠性具有明显时变特性。虽然在盐岩的蠕变力学特性及其变形特性方面,前人已做了大量的研究工作,但国内外在基于随机力学理论的盐岩储备库时变可靠度风险分析方面的研究尚不多见。以国内某盐岩地下储气库为例,建立了相应的可靠度计算功能函数,开展储气库运营期时变可靠度计算及储库风险分析研究。以储库的蠕变体积收缩率为风险控制指标,采用响应面法结合Monte-Carlo抽样,对储气库进行设计运营期内不同内压条件下蠕变随机力学计算,得出了储库可靠指标随时间的变化规律及风险发生水平,拟合出满足工程可靠度要求的体积收敛率限值与储气内压的关系式,并探讨了储气库可靠性对主要随机因素的敏感性,结论可为盐岩地下储气库的安全运行和后期维护提供理论依据     

岩盐三轴压缩试验方法及数据处理方式的对比研究

在能源地下储存及废弃物地下处置库的设计、施工、运行中,岩盐的强度和变形特征是极为重要的参数。正确地获得岩盐的强度参数对地下储存库的设计和安全运行具有重要意义。分别选定江苏金坛和湖北江汉岩样作为试验样本,通过三轴压缩试验获得岩盐短期强度和变形的力学参数,比较并总结了以德国为代表的欧美国家与国内试验方法及数据处理方式的异同。同时介绍了德国短期强度试验确定岩盐损伤起始点的方法及其不足,提出了更为精确地确定方法并确定了金坛岩盐损伤起始点。分析发现:对于大变形岩盐,国内测量的强度数据普遍偏高,应采用横截面积修正以及科学应变代替工程应变的度量方式。