Eurock 2005 -Impact of Human Activity on the Geological Environment - Konecny (ed)

© 2005 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 04 1538 042 1

Mechanical behaviors of concrete plug in storage rock cavern

Eui-Seob Park & Chang-Ha Ryu

Korea Institute a/Geoscience and Mineral Resources, Daejeon, Korea

Byung-Ki Park & Seokwon Jeon

School a/Civil. Urban and Geosystem Engineering, Seoul National University. Seoul, Korea

~~STRACT: In this study, biaxial compression tests were carried out with three plug shapes to figure out
b hmechal1lcal behavior of rock-plug structure. From the results of this test, It IS verified that the mechanical
h aVlor of rock-plug structure is dependent upon the plug shape and applied stress condition, and the failure
c 1aracteristics of its structure is affected by in-situ stress condition. Also, the two-dimensional numerical analysis
was carried out to examine the performance of a concrete plug in underground storage cavern. When the plug
was lIlstalled at a great depth, where was a tendency for the plug to be more stable with increasing in-situ stress
ratIo (K). The results of analysis considering the interface elements at plug-rock contact indicated that the lower
:~Ytntnetric shaped plug with smooth contact condition was more stable than the symmetric or upper asymmetric
aped plug.

fNTRODUCTION SS and US type, there has been little research on its

In construction of an underground storage cavern for
c e 01'1, LPG, LNG, compressed air and so on, a
crud
ao~crete plug is mainly installed in an access tunnel or
s aft that connects the underground cavern and the
fround surface after completion of the excavation and
nStalIation of facilities
TI .
and le plug prevents the stored product from leakage
pi the excesSive inflow of underground water, so It
ofay~ an Important role in construction and operation
th t e storage cavern. Once the plug is constructed,
e cav '.
Su ern ISIsolated from the external access. And the
ca~cess or failure of its function determines the techni-
The~nd economical capacity of overall storage facility.
ical ~fore,.lt ISvery important to examine the mechan-
pi ehavlor of structure combined by rock mass and
\V~g for the determination of its shape and thickness
of I~h provides the cost-saving, safety and tightness
StoP ug structure during design and construction of
rage cavern.
ha\~Ost of plugs within underground storage facility
sh shaped like not a parallel shape but a two-cone
sp:pe/xcavated toward surrounding rock mass with a
andc; IC depth. According to the length ratio of upper
fied oWer Cone in two-cone shape, it could be class i-
the Into three types: upper axi-symmetric(US; when
low~:rt of upper cone is longer), symmetric(SS) and
is I aXI-symmetric(LS; when the part of lower cone
undonger) type. Although the plugs installed within
erground oil storage facility in Korea are mainly
mechanical behavior according to plug type.
In this study, biax ial compression tests were carried
out to examine the mechanical behavior of rock-plug
structure with regard to three types of plug shape,
wedge depth and various stress conditions. Also, we
conducted numerical analyses on the mechanical
behavior of the plug to find optimal shape and thick-
ness of the plug with respect to the installation depth
and the condition of rock-plug interface.
2 SPECIMENS AND TEST METHOD
The specimens for biaxial compression test were
molded as three types such as US, SS and LS which
are 260 rnrn in width, 260 mm in height, and 60 rnm
in thickness. To figure out the effects on mechanical
behavior with regard to wedge depth, the specimens of
the same type were molded as having three different
wedge depths (10, 20 & 30 mm). Figure I shows the
schematic diagram of specimens for biaxial compres-
sion test, which are three types of plug with 20 mrn
wedge depth.
3 RESULTS OF TEST
3.1 Plug type
The biaxial compression tests were carried out with
three different plug types, while applying the same

453
 8.0
5.0
Symmetric Shape (K:0.5) •

6.0 4.0

~ 3.0
~~ .. ;. ..... -
~ .-' '
i!'
iii 2.0

2.0

.,

0.0
0.0 0.0
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
Displacement (rnrn) Displacement (mm)

(a) K = 0.5 (a) Vertical stress = 1.0 MPa

8.0
8.0
I Symmetric Shape (K:l.0) •

6.0
6.0
. -
.. ' .

'""i
Q.
::2
4.0
J

i!'
iii
2.0
20

r
0.0
t
0.0 0.0 2.5
O.s 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0
Displacement (mm) Displacement (mm)

(b) K = 1.0 (b) Vertical stress = 2.0 MPa

8.0

Figure 4. Relationship between stress and displacement of

I Symmetric Shape (K:l.5)' 55 type with the increase of stress ratio K.
6.0

displacement was occurred in the LS type having the

smallest contact area.

3.2 Stress conditions

2.0

For the same plug, test was carried out with the con-
fining stress of 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 MPa, and stress ratio
K = 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5. Figure 3 shows the results of SS
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
type tested by increasing vertical stress (1.0, 1.5 and
Displacement (mm) 2.0 MPa) under the following stress ratio K (0.5, 1.0
(c) K = 1.5 and 1.5).
As shown in Figure 3, when vertical stress was
figure 3 ..
ss typ .. Relatlonsillp between stress and displacement of increased to 1-2 MPa, the displacement occurred at
e with the increase of vertical stress. a plug was decreased under the same stress level.
Although this phenomenon was decreased gradually
the Order f
the Co 0 US < SS < LS type. It means that because with the increase of stress ratio K, which seems that
apPlie~tact area of lower part that resists to the load as horizontal confining stress applied is increased, the
ent plu to the Upper part ofa plug is varied with differ- absolute magnitude of vertical stress can hardly affects
While ~htypes, the strength of cohesion also is varied. the displacement behavior of a plug.
US ty e smallest displacement was occurred in the Figure 4 shows the displacement behavior of SS
pe having the largest contact area, the largest type specimens according to stress ratio K, and it is

455
 3.2

(a) Symmetric (b) Upper asymmetric (c) Lower asymmetric

Figure 5. Plug shape and its analysis point.

clear that as stress ratio K was increased, the displace- Table I. Mechanical properties of the rock mass and con-
ment occurred was decreased gradually under the same crete plug.
-------------------
stress level. It can be thought that because the con-
Material
fining pressure applied to a plug is increased as the propert ies Rock mass Concrete plug
confining pressure in rock becomes higher, the dis- -------------------
placement occurred at a plug could be restricted by this Density (kg/rn ') 2500 2300
confining pressure. Similarly the mechanical behavior Young's modulus (GPa) 17.8 35
of the same plug type is irrelevant to the condition of Poisson's ratio 0.2 0.25
normal stress. Cohesion (MPa) 4.3
Friction angle (0) 35
-------------------
4 2-D MECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PLUG
interface element to rock-plug contact was added in
4.1 Model setup STEP 4.

The selected cavern shape for this study was Pyong-
Taek LPG storage cavern in Korea. The analysis model
was set up with shaft, plug, and cavern together with
axi-symmetric condition. The model boundary was
set to 50 m in width and 150 m in height. The Mohr-
Coulomb failure criterion was adopted for rock mass
and the elastic model for the plug. Three types of
plug geometry were used for this analysis as shown
in Figure 5.
4.2 Input data
Table I shows the mechanical properties of rock mass
and a concrete plug. The rock mass properties were
determined by the results of geologic investigation and
laboratory tests of the Pyong- Taek LPG storage cavern
project [SK Co., 1998]. The calculated stress applied
to the top of the plug was about 1.6 MPa.
4.3 Analysis sequence
The analysis procedure followed the real construc-
tion sequence as below. The analysis which applied
I. STEP I: Excavate shaft, plug, and cavern.
2. STEP 2: Plug installation.
3. STEP 3: Loading water pressure on the upper sur-
face of the plug.
4. STEP 4: Apply infiltration pressure to rock-plug
interface.
4.4 Effect ofin-situ stress ratio (K value), depth
and plug shape
The plug behavior was analyzed numerically with di~
ferent shapes of the plug, K values, and installattO
depths. Each analysis applied the various condilions
in combination.
. and
- Plug shapes: upper asymmetric, symmetnc,
lower asymmetric type
- K values: 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0
- Depths: 100, 200, 500, and 1000 m
From the analysis, several results were obtained~
The maximum compressive stress occurred in the rOcf
mass at point C (Fig. 5). And the maximum value IDe
the compressive stress and displacement wtthtn t 1

456
 3.0
1.6 o
2.5 1.4

<il 1.2
a.
~ 1.0
'"'"!'! 0.8
u;
-.- upper asymmetric shape
~
'in
0.6

c 0.4
-.- upper asymmetric shape
0.5
a symmetric shape
'"
f-
0.2 o symmetric shape
• lower asymmetric shape
0.0 -+-- lower asymmetric shape
0.0
·0.2
a 200 400 600 800 1000 a 200 400 600 800 1000
Deplh (m) Deplh (m)

(a) K = 0.5 (b) K= 1.0

0.8

0.7 2.0 -.- upper asymmetric shape

-.- upper asymmetric shape
symmetric shape
tti' 0.6
Q. a symmetric shape
E -.- lower asymmetric shape
~ 0.5 --.-- lower asymmetric shape .s 1.5
'"~ 0.4 c
iii 0.3 '"E 1.0
~ '"
o
~ 0.2 g-'" Ij-
~ 0.1
0.0 .
o
o 0.5
~_.·
r·...
'0.1 0.0
a 200 400 600 800 1000 a 200 400 600 800 1000

Depth (m) Depth (m)

(c) K = 1.5 (d) K = 1.0

Figure 6.
Variation of the maximum tensile stress and displacement as to the change in depth and K.

~:~g OCCurred at point B. But, the maximum tensile ~~tJ,.L'l;...oL.cJ.'!EDl

HAC (V~NIf{)/} 3.30)

th ess concentration occurred at point A. In case that
(I ~t'ug was installed at a relatively shallow depth
and m-200 m), the magnitudes
JJI'U/lJH ~I"'l
of the principal stress
~a.ll~:u-, •.-:IU"
to th the maxImum displacement were not sensitive -11~-a:~·rlN::.Y.·t::

the ~ changes In in-situ stress ratio (K) and the shape of

the Pug. But, when installed at a great depth (l 000 m), __-:~I.v-.
-J.lIOItI;ID'
in re has a tendency for the plug to be more stable with
......
·1..t:ehK

........,
creasln" . ·iUUl!r.l

T g in-SItu stress rano (K).

rn] he cnterion to evaluate the plug stability was deter-
an~~d With the magnitude and extent of tensile stress
the Isplacement occurred in a plug. Figure 6 shows
pia vanation of the maximum tensile stress and dis-
K celment of each shape with respect to depth and
disv~ ue, The differences between tensile stress and
Figure 7. Contour of the maximum principal stress for
~acement of each plug were not great. symmetric shape (K = 1.0 and Depth = 100 rn).
the Igure 7 shows the contours of the maximum and
sha mInImum stress around the plug for symmetric
e failure criterion. The Coulomb shear strength criterion
thar
r
Contours for other shaped plug were similar to
o the symmetric shape.
limits the shear force by the following relation.

4.5 F,max = cL + F; tan ~ (I)

EfJect of rock-concrete interface
The Co .
III as ntact plane between a concrete plug and rock where c is cohesion along the interface, L is effec-
PL:C Was Considered by using interface elements in tive contact length, and 4> is friction angle of interface
, aSSllmll1g that it follows the Coulomb shear surfaces.

457
 -:
Table 2. Material properties with respect to interface 0.95
I -"- Min. Prin. stress at plug bottom"]
condition. 0.94

Interface '"
c, 0.93

properties Rough Intermediate Smooth ~~

~
i!'
0.92

20 Ui 0.91
Normal 20 20 $
stiffness (GPa)
Young's 20 10 2
.,
.~
f-
0.90

modulus (GPa) 0.89

Cohesion (MPa) 2 2 2 0.88

100
Friction angle CO) 30 30 30 20 40 60 80
E(%)
(a) Tensile stress

o.s -.- Symmetric

'\
o Upper asymmetric 0.54
.- Maximum displacement at pi§]
--.~ Lower asymmetric 0.52
c,
'" 0.8
z~ 0.7 E
.s-
0.50

., .-._---------. C.,
0.48
0.46
"~S.JJ,,:
o''?Cr
ii5 E
e
"s.
$
·in
0.6
e 0.44

c:
f!!. 0.5 ~'" 0.42
is
0.4
... 0.40
0.38
"------.
"-"
0.36
Rough Intermediate Smooth 40 60 80 100
20
Interface Condition E(%)

(b) Displacement
Figure 8. Variation of tensile stress as to the interface
conditions (K = 1.0, Depth = 100 rn).
Figure 9. Stress and displacement as to the decrease of
elastic modulus (for upper asymmetric shape, K zz: 1.0,
depth 100 rn).
The result of analysis without considering the
infiltration pressure showed that the tensile stress
au > as > 0L at the bottom of a plug. But after the 0.95
infiltration pressure was applied to the upper interface 0.90
between rock mass and a plug, the analysis results were 0.85

different. The magnitude and the extent of the tensile ~ 0.80 !Iower asymmetric I
~ 0.75
stress were smallest in the case of the lower asymmet-
~ 0.70
ric shape. This is because that the infiltration pressure ~ 0.65
applied to the upper interface, which is nearly vertical, $ 0.60
·00
plays the role of lateral stress. ~ 055
The smoother condition of interface allowed the 0.50
0.45
more displacement, so that the magnitude and the
0040
extent of tensile stress occurred in plug were reduced. Smooth
Rough Intermediate
Figure 8 shows the tensile stress with respect to
Interface condition
interface condition installed at 100 m depth.
Figure 10. Variation of tensile stress as to the interface
4.6 Effect a/the EDZ condition and degree of damage.

When excavating underground opening, blasting

causes additional damages to adjacent rock mass.
And as a consequence changes of rock mass strength,
hydraulic conductivity and stress redistribution will
result in. Among many criteria for estimating blast
induced EDZ, the change in elastic modulus was
adopted as the indices ofEDZ estimation in this study.
So 80%, 60%, 40%, and 20% elastic modulus of the
undamaged rock mass were used, and the EDZ range
was taken I m in radial direction.
Figure 9 shows the tendency to increase the tenSile
stress and displacement under influence of excavatiOn
damage. When the elastic modulus reduced 20%, diS-
placement increased 43% and the tensi Ie stress increa-
sed by 6%. Therefore, it was observed that the increas~
of damage has a strong influence on displacemen
rather than on stress.
Figure 10 shows the tensile stress for different
conditions of plug-rock interface.

458
5 CONCLUSIONS
Through the biaxial compression tests, the following
conclusions are derived. The displacement occurred at
a plug is dependent on the plug type: US < SS < LS
d Pe. And the displacement for the same type is
ependent on normal stress level or stress ratio K.
According to the results of20 analysis, as the plug
\Va .
S Installed at deeper depth, there was a tendency
t~ be more stable with increasing in-situ stress ratio
;h~' The smoother condition of the interface allowed
more dIsplacement, so that the magnitude and the
~ange of the tensile stress in a plug were reduced. The
ensIle stress and displacement in plug were increased
;1lh decreasing deformation modulus of rock mass
f Ue to excavation damage and the maximum values
Or 20% of deformation modulus of undamaged rock
!l1asswere increased by 6% and 43%, respectively.
Kodikara, 1.K. & Johnston, l.W 1994. Shear behavior of
irregulartriangularrock-concretejoints, Int. 1. Rock Mech.
Min. Sci. & Geomech. Abstr: 31 (4):313-322.
Wang, 1. & Maji, A.K. 1995. Experimental studies and mod-
eling of the concrete/rock interface, Interface fracture and
bond, ACI SP-156:45-68.
Hokmark, H. 1998. Numerical study of the performance of
tunnel plugs, Engineering Geology, 49:327-335.
Itasca Consulting Group lnc., 1995, FLAC2D Manual.
Lee, D.H. 1998. Mechanical behavior and cracking character-
istics of tunnel lining by model experiment and numerical
analysis, Ph.D. Thesis, Seoul National Univ .. Seoul, Korea.
Pusch, R. 1992. The zone of disturbance around blasted tun-
nels at depth, Int. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech.Abstr.,
29(5):447-456.
SK Construction Co. 1998. Report of Pyung- Taek LPG
Project.

REFERENCES
ro
B , A. 1992. Technical Note - Failure of stepped joints:
an analysis and comparison with a measured failure
geometry, Int. 1. Rock Mech. Min. Sci. & Geomech, Abstr.
29(2): 179-186.

459