Rock mass response for lined rock caverns subjected to high internal gas pressure

Damasceno, D. R., Spross, J. and Johansson, F. Rock mass response for lined rock caverns subjected to high internal gas pressure. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, In Press. doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2022.03.006.

The storage of hydrogen gas in underground lined rock caverns (LRCs) enables the implementation of the first fossil-free steelmaking process to meet the large demand for crude steel. Predicting the response of rock mass is important to ensure that gas leakage due to rupture of the steel lining does not occur. In this paper, the suitability of analytical and numerical models to estimate the maximum cavern wall tangential strain under high internal pressure is studied.