Fracture development around underground excavations in rock salt

Abstract

It is generally accepted that rock salt deforms plastically without fracturing. However, underground mine observations of failures show various fracture mechanisms are involved. The most significant fracturing observed at WIPP are bed separation, slabbing of the ribs, and fracturing in the stiff floor. In this study, in situ deformation measurements obtained from the WIPP site were used to understand the fracture behaviors of underground excavations in bedded rock salt.