True triaxial test of mechanical properties and crack evolution laws of underground chambers with different lining thicknesses for compressed air energy storage
ZHAO Jun1*, WANG Baochen1, PENG Peng2, CUI Yulong1
(1. School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, Anhui 232001, China;
2. College of Civil Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, Anhui 230009, China)
Abstract：To meet the safety requirements for the operation of underground caverns utilized in compressed air energy storage under high internal pressure and complex in-situ stress conditions, this study investigates the cracking and instability mechanisms of concrete lining structures subjected to cyclic loading. A true triaxial testing method was employed to fabricate concrete lining specimens featuring circular openings. Combined with acoustic emission (AE) monitoring, three-dimensional localization, and RA-AF parameter analysis, the mechanical response characteristics, crack evolution behavior, and failure mechanisms of cavern models with varying lining thicknesses were systematically examined. The results indicate that during the true triaxial compression process, specimens with different lining thicknesses undergo four distinct stages: compaction, elastic deformation, plastic deformation, and instability failure. Macroscopically, V-shaped crushed zones and through-going shear bands are formed on both sides of the opening. The lining thickness exhibits a dual regulatory effect on the failure mode: excessively thin linings provide insufficient confinement, leading to rapid crack penetration, while overly thick linings tend to accumulate elastic strain energy, resulting in sudden failure. In contrast, a moderate lining thickness achieves an optimal balance among load-bearing capacity, crack control, and energy release. AE monitoring results reveal that crack evolution follows a staged pattern of “compaction–stable crack propagation–accelerated crack growth–instability failure”, with AE events evolving from “low-energy and sparse” to “high-energy and dense”, concentrating during the failure stage. Furthermore, based on three-dimensional localization and RA-AF parameter analysis, the crack types evolve from initially scattered tensile cracks in localized weak zones to tensile-shear composite cracks concentrated around the opening. Correspondingly, the failure mode transitions from tensile failure to tensile-shear composite failure, ultimately culminating in shear-dominated failure. Quantitative analysis shows that the lining thickness exerts a significant influence on the peak strength and crack evolution. The peak strength of specimens increases by approximately 12.5% as the lining thickness rises. Moreover, when the proportion of shear cracks exceeds 58.05%, the structure transitions from tensile?shear composite failure to shear?dominated failure.
赵 军1*，王宝琛1，彭 鹏2，崔玉龙1. 压气储能地下硐室不同衬砌厚度力学特性及裂缝演化规律的真三轴试验研究[J]. 岩石力学与工程学报, 2026, 45(10): 2999-3015.
ZHAO Jun1*, WANG Baochen1, PENG Peng2, CUI Yulong1. True triaxial test of mechanical properties and crack evolution laws of underground chambers with different lining thicknesses for compressed air energy storage. , 2026, 45(10): 2999-3015.
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2026, Vol. 45 
