Analytical stress solution framework for lined compressed air energy storage chambers and its application to safe burial depth determination and supporting effectiveness evaluation

Abstract This study addresses the stress distribution in the lining‐surrounding rock composite structure of a compressed air energy storage (CAES) chamber under the combined action of high internal pressure and complex external loading. An analytical mechanical model based on the plane strain assumption is proposed. Using the Airy stress function method, the axisymmetric and antisymmetric components are solved and superimposed to derive the elastic stress field of the lining and surrounding rock. The results are validated through numerical simulations using Abaqus, showing a high degree of agreement, with relative deviations less than 2.8%. Based on this, a calculation method for the minimum safe burial depth (SBD‐L‐Min) is proposed and the supporting effectiveness of the lining is evaluated. The analysis reveals that ultra‐high‐performance concrete outperforms ordinary concrete in terms of stiffness, strength, and gas‐tightness, effectively reducing the required burial depth and enhancing structural safety and long‐term durability. Parametric analyses further demonstrate the critical influence of lining thickness, surrounding rock quality, and lateral pressure coefficient on burial depth and support performance. The high‐resolution, mesh‐free analytical method developed in this study ensures high computational efficiency, providing not only a reliable theoretical framework but also practical insights for the design and optimization of CAES chambers. It offers robust theoretical support for site selection and lining design in underground energy storage systems.