Durability analysis of underground structures based on various creep models of the enclosing salt rock massif

The results of the durability analysis of a complex underground structure and surrounding multilayered rock massif are presented. The research is conducted based on an applied stress-strain state problem for a salt rock massif in the vicinity of an underground cavity of a large cross-section which is in conjunction with a mine shaft. The main aim of the research is to perform a comparative analysis of various mathematical models of the creep process. The problem is solved using finite element method to achieve this goal. Regularity in the development of deformation processes of the enclosing rock massif is established as a result of the study. According to this regularity, both primary creep and primary-secondary creep models show that the main increase of creep deformations occurs during a short initial time period after which creep strain rate decreases sharply.