3D Stability Computation of the Praid Salt Mines Complex Using DKR Control Method

The stability assessment of the complex salt cavities, placed inside the salt rock mass, represents a real scientific and technical challenge for any researcher focused on the geomechanics field. The purpose of this paper is 3D stability modelling for the Praid salt mines, Romania, taking into account the salt cavities mining dynamics and also the intrinsic parameters’ effect over the salt rock mass behaviour (e.g. insoluble and water soluble residuum contents). FLAC 3D code (Itasca, 2007) was used for numerical computation, in connection with Kubrix and 3D Shop software, for the geometry and meshing preparation. The proper computation was performed using DKRControl method principles. The authors developed the preliminary computation, taking into consideration the exploitation dynamics of the salt mines, the properties of the rock salt determined in the laboratory, and calibrating the model in accordance with one major effect of the instability phenomenon, well known and localized in space, such as the roof collapse of the Jozsef Salt mine. The results of this numerical model exploitation could represent a good start for a detailed analysis of the stability assessment of the Praid salt cavities complex, at global and especially at local level.