Mechanical behavior of New Mexico rock salt in triaxial compression up to 200/sup 0/C
An extensive experimental program is being conducted to determine the mechanical behavior of New Mexico rock salt in support of the structural design of a Radioactive Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). In this initial report, three groups of tests are discussed to identify the relative and site-specific importance of deviator stress, confining pressure (mean stress), temperature, time (loading rate), and stress path. The three groups of experiments consist of (1) hydrostatic loading, (2) conventional triaxial compression tests (sigma/sub 1/ > sigma/sub 2/ = sigma/sub 3/ = const.), and (3) variable stress path tests including experiments at approximately constant sigma/sub 1/ and at constant mean stress. All data were generated on 100 mm diameter specimens. The rock salt exhibited nonlinear response under all loading conditions, practically zero initial elastic limit and an apparent inseparability of permanent deformations into time-independent and time-dependent components. Pressure and temperature did not alter the elastic constants but affected the principal strain ratio, the ratio volumetric strain/shear strain, rock salt ductility, and the ultimate stress. In particular, low pressure and temperature permitted pronounced dilatancy and loss in load bearing ability. Under such conditions the volumetric strains reach sizable fractions of the shear strains. Pressure remained important even at high temperature because it influenced the rate of shearing. Load path and stress history may be significant under deviatoric loading conditions and for large variations in pressure.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia Labs., Albuquerque, N.Mex. (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-04-0789
- OSTI ID:
- 6809502
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-77-1192C; CONF-780564-1; TRN: 78-014140
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 5. international salt symposium, Hamburg, F.R. Germany, 29 May 1978
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Mechanical behavior of New Mexico rock salt in triaxial compression up to 200 /sup 0/C
Laboratory Evaluation of Damage Criteria and Creep Parameters of Tioga Dolomite and Rock Salt from Cavern Well No. 1
Related Subjects
58 GEOSCIENCES
NEW MEXICO
SALT DEPOSITS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
SODIUM CHLORIDES
STRESSES
TIME DEPENDENCE
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
MANAGEMENT
NORTH AMERICA
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SOUTHWEST REGION
STORAGE
USA
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE STORAGE
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
580100 - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)