Analysis and Design Approach for Large Storage Caverns
Publication: International Journal of Geomechanics
Volume 13, Issue 1
Abstract
This paper presents a case study of an underground crude oil storage project. This storage site is researched with detailed field and laboratory investigations. The layout, cross section, and elevation of the caverns are analyzed and designed based on geological and geotechnical information obtained during these investigations. In this study, two-dimensional (2D) elastoplastic analysis is performed using the finite-element code Phase 2D to study the rock mass behavior caused by staged excavation of the cavern (). The excavation of the cavern is simulated with different stages, i.e., excavation of a pilot tunnel and subsequent side slashing followed by excavation for a pilot bench and subsequent side slashing with a total of three benches. Displacement values obtained analytically are compared with the observed displacement as the excavation progresses. Because the 2D FEM code is based on the plain strain concept, it could not take into account the effect of excavation in other directions that is very obvious at the intersection with tunnels and shafts. Therefore, these intersections were analyzed using a linear three-dimensional (3D) boundary element code, Examine3D. The stability analysis of rock wedges formed from various joint patterns is also studied using the UNWEDGE software based on block theory for each section of the cavern.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Dhawan, R. K., Singh, D. N., and Gupta, D. I. (2004). “Three-dimensional finite element analysis of underground caverns.” Int. J. Geomech., 4(3), 224–228.
Franzius, J. N., and Potts, D. M. (2005). “Influence of mesh geometry on three-dimensional finite-element analysis of tunnel excavation.” Int. J. Geomech., 5(3), 256–266.
Goodman, R. E., and Shi, G. (1985). Block theory and its application to rock engineering, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
Grimstad, E., and Barton, N. (1993). “Updating the Q-System for NMT.” Proc., Int. Symposium on Sprayed Concrete—Modern Use of Wet Mix Sprayed Concrete for Underground Support, Norwegian Concrete Association, Olso, Norway, 46–66.
Grimstad, E., Bhasin, R., Hogen, A. W., Kayonia, A., and Kankes, K. (2003). “Q-system advance for sprayed lining, Part 1.” Tunnels and Tunneling International (T & T), January 2003 and Part-II (T & T) March 2003.
Hoek, E., Carranza-Torres, C., and Corkum, B. (2002). “Hoek brown failure criterion—2002 edition.” Proc., NARMS-TAC Conf., Vol. 1, Toronto, 267–273.
Examine 3D 4.0 [Computer software]. Toronto, Rocscience.
Phase 2D 6 [Computer software]. Toronto, Rocscience.
RocLab [Computer software]. Toronto, Rocscience.
UNWEDGE 3 [Computer software]. Toronto, Rocscience.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 13, 2010
Accepted: Sep 23, 2011
Published online: Sep 26, 2011
Published in print: Feb 1, 2013
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.