| Abstract: | A constitutive model for crushed salt is presented in this paper. A creep constitutive model is developed first and compared with test results. The constitutive model presented here concentrates on creep deformation because saline media behave basically in a ductile and time‐dependent way. An idealized geometry is used as a common framework to obtain stress–strain macroscopic laws based on two deformation mechanisms: fluid‐assisted diffusional transfer creep and dislocation creep. The model is able to predict strain rates that compare well with results from laboratory tests under isotropic and oedometric conditions. Macroscopic laws are written using a non‐linear viscous approach, which incorporates also a viscoplastic component, based on critical state theory. The viscoplastic term is intended for non‐creep deformation mechanisms such as grain reorganization and crushing. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
