Consideration on thermal behavior of rock mass around openings affected by thermal hysteresis of low temperatures

The authors have proposed and discussed temporary storage of low temperature materials such as LNG, LPG and frozen food in openings excavated in rock mountains. In this case, as the rock mass around the openings will receive thermal hysteresis of low temperatures, it is necessary to obtain strength and deformation characteristics of rocks undergoing thermal hysteresis of low temperatures to consider the thermal behavior of rock mass around openings and the stability of openings. In this study, strength and deformation characteristics of some types of rocks were examined after undergoing thermal hysteresis of low temperatures. Using the results of the experiments, temperature and stress distribution around openings were analyzed. From the results of analysis, it was found that in the case of undergoing thermal hysteresis, crack length and freezing zone are about same as in the case of not undergoing thermal hysteresis.