Numerical analysis of stability of waste disposals in salt rocks

The conditions of safe exploitation of the underground waste disposals in salt rocks can be estimated on the basis of the complex analysis of stability and non-permeability of surrounding massif. The most dangerous factor is the generation and propagation of the cracks in stochasticly heterogeneous rocks accompanied by the rock pressure redistribution. The multi-scale and multi-mode character of such a process presupposes elaboration not only of adequate model descriptions, but also of the advanced numerical procedures. Some concepts of the numerical modelling of these phenomena and of respective computational tools are discussed. The approaches based on the scale-invariant load redistribution technique (fractal approaches) are proposed. The specific features of the long-term stability and account for rock pressure fluctuations are outlined.