In the context of deep geological disposal of radioactive waste in clay formations, the thermo-hydro- mechanical (THM) behavior of the indurated Callovo-Oxfordian and Opalinus clay rocks has been extensively investi...In the context of deep geological disposal of radioactive waste in clay formations, the thermo-hydro- mechanical (THM) behavior of the indurated Callovo-Oxfordian and Opalinus clay rocks has been extensively investigated in our laboratory under repository relevant conditions: (1) rock stress covering the range from the lithostatic state to redistributed levels after excavation; (2) variation of the humidity in the openings due to ventilation as well as hydraulic drained and undrained boundary conditions; (3) gas generation from corrosion of metallic components within repositories; and (4) thermal loading from high-level radioactive waste up to the designed maximum temperature of 90 ~C and even beyond to 150 ~C, Various important aspects concerning the long-term barrier functions of the clay host rocks have been studied: (1) fundamental concept for effective stress in the porous clay-water system; (2) stress- driven deformation and damage as well as resulting permeability changes; (3) moisture influences on mechanical properties; (4) self-sealing of fractures under mechanical load and swelling]slaking of clay minerals upon water uptake; (5) gas migration in fractured and resealed claystones; and (6) thermal impact on the hydro-mechanical behavior and properties, Major findings from the investigations are summarized in this paper,展开更多
Clays and claystones are considered in some countries (including Belgium, France and Switzerland) as a potential host rock for high activity long lived radioactive waste disposal at great depth. One of the aspects t...Clays and claystones are considered in some countries (including Belgium, France and Switzerland) as a potential host rock for high activity long lived radioactive waste disposal at great depth. One of the aspects to deal with when assessing the performance of the disposal is related to the effects of the temperature elevation due to the placement of exothermic wastes on the host rock. The potential effects of the thermal impact on the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) in the near field are another important issue that was the goal of the TIMODAZ European research project. In this paper, some principles of waste disposal in clayey host rocks at great depth are first presented and a series of experimental investigations carried out on specific equipment specially developed to face the problem are presented. Both drained and undrained tests have been carried out to investigate the drained thermal volume changes of clays and claystone and the thermal pressurization occurring around the galleries. The importance of proper initial saturation (under in situ stresses) and of satisfactory drainage conditions (in spite of the significantly low perme- ability of claystones) is emphasized, leading to the development of a new hollow cylinder apparatus. It is observed that claystones cannot be considered as overconsolidated clays given that they can exhibit, as the Callovo-Oxfordian claystone does, a thermoplastic contraction. Mechanical and thermal hardenings are however observed, extending the knowledge already gained on clays to claystones. A new method of determining the thermal pressurization coefficient in the laboratory is described and the data obtained allow completing existing data in the field. Finally, the hollow cylinder apparatus makes it possible to demonstrate that the good self-sealing properties of clays and claystones can be extended to temperature effects, an important conclusion in terms of performance assessment.展开更多
基金funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy(BMWi)under contract number02E10377
文摘In the context of deep geological disposal of radioactive waste in clay formations, the thermo-hydro- mechanical (THM) behavior of the indurated Callovo-Oxfordian and Opalinus clay rocks has been extensively investigated in our laboratory under repository relevant conditions: (1) rock stress covering the range from the lithostatic state to redistributed levels after excavation; (2) variation of the humidity in the openings due to ventilation as well as hydraulic drained and undrained boundary conditions; (3) gas generation from corrosion of metallic components within repositories; and (4) thermal loading from high-level radioactive waste up to the designed maximum temperature of 90 ~C and even beyond to 150 ~C, Various important aspects concerning the long-term barrier functions of the clay host rocks have been studied: (1) fundamental concept for effective stress in the porous clay-water system; (2) stress- driven deformation and damage as well as resulting permeability changes; (3) moisture influences on mechanical properties; (4) self-sealing of fractures under mechanical load and swelling]slaking of clay minerals upon water uptake; (5) gas migration in fractured and resealed claystones; and (6) thermal impact on the hydro-mechanical behavior and properties, Major findings from the investigations are summarized in this paper,
基金supported jointly by the European TIM-ODAZ project (F16W-CT-2007-036449) managed by Dr. F. Bernier and Dr. X.L. Li from Euridice (Belgium) and by Ecole des ponts ParisTechjointly supported by ANDRA and Ecole des ponts ParisTech
文摘Clays and claystones are considered in some countries (including Belgium, France and Switzerland) as a potential host rock for high activity long lived radioactive waste disposal at great depth. One of the aspects to deal with when assessing the performance of the disposal is related to the effects of the temperature elevation due to the placement of exothermic wastes on the host rock. The potential effects of the thermal impact on the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) in the near field are another important issue that was the goal of the TIMODAZ European research project. In this paper, some principles of waste disposal in clayey host rocks at great depth are first presented and a series of experimental investigations carried out on specific equipment specially developed to face the problem are presented. Both drained and undrained tests have been carried out to investigate the drained thermal volume changes of clays and claystone and the thermal pressurization occurring around the galleries. The importance of proper initial saturation (under in situ stresses) and of satisfactory drainage conditions (in spite of the significantly low perme- ability of claystones) is emphasized, leading to the development of a new hollow cylinder apparatus. It is observed that claystones cannot be considered as overconsolidated clays given that they can exhibit, as the Callovo-Oxfordian claystone does, a thermoplastic contraction. Mechanical and thermal hardenings are however observed, extending the knowledge already gained on clays to claystones. A new method of determining the thermal pressurization coefficient in the laboratory is described and the data obtained allow completing existing data in the field. Finally, the hollow cylinder apparatus makes it possible to demonstrate that the good self-sealing properties of clays and claystones can be extended to temperature effects, an important conclusion in terms of performance assessment.