Probability-based structural design of lined rock caverns to resist high internal gas pressure

• Published in: Engineering geology Vol. 153; pp. 144 - 151
• Main Authors: Park, Dohyun, Kim, Hyung-Mok, Ryu, Dong-Woo, Choi, Byung-Hee, Han, Kong-Chang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 08.02.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Building structure; Buildings. Public works; Caverns; Compressed; Compressed natural gas; Computation methods. Tables. Charts; Construction (buildings and works); Design engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Geotechnics; Lined rock cavern; Liners; Mathematical models; Natural gas; Point estimate method; Pressurized gas storage; Reliability assessment; Rock; Soil investigations. Testing; Structural analysis. Stresses; Structural design; Structural reliability; Underground structure; Asia; Korea; Structural reliability; Reliability assessment; Lined rock cavern; Pressurized gas storage; Compressed natural gas; Point estimate method; Structural design; Stress analysis; Underground storage; Pressurizing; High pressure; Resistance; Numerical analysis; Point estimation; Application; Natural gas
• ISSN: 0013-7952; 1872-6917
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enggeo.2012.12.001

This paper describes a probability-based structural design approach to underground, lined rock caverns for the bulk storage of pressurized gas, such as compressed air, compressed natural gas, or compressed gaseous hydrogen. Our design approach is based on a combination of a point estimate method and a deterministic numerical analysis code. In the present study, we demonstrate the validity of this numerical approach in the design of underground structures by comparing it with a theoretical solution for a lined-tunnel problem. Our design approach is then applied to the preliminary structural design of a lined rock cavern for storing compressed natural gas at a high pressure of 15MPa, where structural support for ensuring gas-tightness and the cavern's mechanical stability is supplied by both steel and concrete liners. In this application, a probability-based design chart for determining the strength and thickness of the steel liner is presented, and the structural performance of the concrete liner is evaluated in a probabilistic manner. ► This paper addresses a probabilistic design approach to underground rock caverns. ► The approach involves combining a point estimate method and numerical analysis. ► The approach's validity was demonstrated by comparing it with an exact solution. ► The present approach was applied to a lined rock cavern for CNG storage. ► Probability-based structural design information for this rock cavern was provided.