The improved IfG gas storage cavern design concept

New gas storages operation modes creates challenges in the geomechanical verification of cavern stability with a demand for improved constitutive laws answering the more specified questions resulting from load conditions. In the case of cyclic operated caverns additional thermo-dynamical induced load at the cavern contour has to be considered. Therefore, in terms of long term stability and integrity assessment tension as well as shear load conditions are a matter of particular interest. The aim of the improved IfG gas storage cavern design concept focus on damage and destrengthening processes taking place at the cavern contour under cyclic load conditions. It documents significant progress concerning the rock mechanical understanding of the stress-strain and the long term deformation behavior of salt rocks as coupled thermo-mechanical processes.