Table 1.

Different loading steps for the simulations and the salt concentration applied at the endplate and outer annulus

Step	Loading	Salt concentration (M)
1	Constrained swelling, no axial loading	0.15
2	Increasing axial load from 0 to 500 N over time step	0.15
3	Constant axial load of 500 N	0.15
4	Increasing axial load from 500 to 1,000 N over time step	0.15
5	Constant axial load of 1,000 N	0.15
6	Decreasing axial load to 0 N	0.15