Quasi-static strength and deformational characteristics of domal salt from Avery Island, Louisiana

Constant stress-rate experiments were performed on specimens of dome salt from Avery Island, Louisiana, to determine the influence on strength and deformation of stress rate, temperature, and confining pressure. The experiments were performed in triaxial compression at axial stress rates of 2.3 x 10-3 and 2.3 x 10-2 MPa s-1, and at temperatures between 240C and 2250C. The confining pressure ranged from 0 to 20.7 MPa. Results show that strength increases with increasing stress rate and decreasing temperature. Ductility, however, increases with decreasing stress rate and increasing temperature. Both strength and ductility increase with increasing confining pressure