Abstract
Two large-scale “in situ” demonstration experiments and their instrumentation are described. The first test (FEBEX Experiment) involves the hydration of a compacted bentonite barrier under the combined effect of an inner source of heat and an outer water flow from the confining saturated granite rock. In the second case, the progressive de-saturation of Opalinus clay induced by maintained ventilation of an unlined tunnel is analyzed. The paper shows the performance of different sensors (capacitive cells, psychrometers, TDR’s) and a comparison of fill behaviour with modelling results. The long term performance of some instruments could also be evaluated specially in the case of FEBEX test. Capacitive sensors provide relative humidity data during long transient periods characterised by very large variations of suction within the bentonite.
Keywords
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Alonso EE, Alcoverro J, Coste F, Malinsky L, Merrien-Soukatchoff V, Kadiri I, Nowak T, Shao H, Nguyen TS, Selvadurai APS, Armand G, Sobolik SR, Itamura M, Stone CM, Webb SW, Rejeb A, Tijani M, Maouche Z, Kobayashi A, Kurikami H, Ito A, Sugita Y, Chijimatsu M, Borgesson L, Hernelind J, Rutqvist J, Tsang C-F, Jussila P (2005) The FEBEX benchmark test: case definition and comparison of modelling approaches. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 42:611–638
DIT-UPC (2002) CODE_BRIGHT. A 3-D program for thermo-hydro-mechanical analysis in geological media. USER’S GUIDE. Centro Internacional de Métodos Numéricos en Ingeniería (CIMNE), Barcelona
Fälth B, Börgesson L, Hökmark H, Hernelind J (2005) THM predictive modelling of the Temperature Buffer Test- clay technology’s contribution. In: Alonso EE, Ledesma A (eds) Advances in understanding engineered clay barriers. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 461–482
García-Siñeriz JL, Bárcena I, Fernández PA, Sanz FJ (2004) Instrument analysis report. Project deliverable D14, Aitemin internal report, Madrid. Project NO.70-AIT-L-6-9, 79 pp.
Huertas F, Fuentes-Cantillana JL, Jullien F, Rivas P, Linares J, Fariña P, Ghoreychi M, Jockwer N, Kickmaier W, Martinet MA, Samper J, Alonso EE, Elorza FS (2000) Full scale engineered barriers experiment for a high-level radioactive waste in crystalline host rock (FEBEX Project). Final Report, European Commission, Report n° EUR 19147 EN
Ledesma A, Chen GJ (2005) T-H-M modelling of the prototype repository experiment: comparison with current measurements. In: Alonso EE, Ledesma A (eds) Advances in understanding engineered clay barriers. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 337–346
Lloret A, Villar MV, Sánchez M, Gens A, Pintado X, Alonso EE (2003) Mechanical behavior of heavily compacted bentonite under high suction changes. Géotechnique 53(1):27–40
Martin CD, Lanyon GW (2003) Measurement of in-situ stress in weak rocks at Mont Terri Rock Laboratory, Switzerland. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40:1077–1088
Mayor JC, García-Siñeriz JL, Velasco M, Gómez-Hernández J, Lloret A, Matray JM, Coste F, Giraud A, Rothfuchs T, Marschall P, Rösli U, Mayer G (2005) Ventilation experiment in Opalinus clay for the management of radioactive waste. Technical Publication 07/2005. Enresa, Madrid
Olivella S, Carrera J, Gens A, Alonso EE (1994) Nonisothermal multiphase flow of brine and gas through saline media. Transp Porous Media 15:271–293
Olivella S, Gens A, Carrera J, Alonso EE (1996) Numerical formulation for simulator (CODE_BRIGHT) for coupled analysis of saline media. Eng Comput 13(7):87–112
Olivier HJ (1979) Some aspects of the influence of mineralogy and moisture redistribution on the weathering behaviour of mudrock. In: Proceedings of the 4th international conference on rock mechanics. Montreux, Switzerland, vol 3. pp 467–474
Sánchez M (2004) Thermo-hydro-mechanical coupled analysis in low permeability media. PhD Thesis, UPC, Spain
Sandén T, Goudarzi R, Börgesson L (2005) Transducers and cable connections for measuring THM-processes in engineering barriers—design and experiences. In: Alonso EE, Ledesma A (eds) Advances in understanding engineered clay barriers. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 21–34
Thomas HR, Cleall PJ, Melhuish TA (2005) Simulation of the prototype repository. In: Alonso EE, Ledesma A (eds) Advances in understanding engineered clay barriers. Balkema, Rotterdam, pp 347–352
Velasco M, Pedraza L (2004) Ventilation experiment in Opalinus clay “VE” experiment. Hydromechanical interpretation and modelling (Task T71). Project Deliverable 19a, EC Contract FIKW-CT 2001-00126, Enresa, Madrid
Villar MV, García-Siñeriz JL, Bárcena I, Lloret A (2005) State of the bentonite barrier after five years of operation of an in situ test simulating a high level radioactive waste repository. Eng Geol 80:175–198
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Alonso, E.E., Springman, S.M., Ng, C.W.W. (2008). Monitoring Large-Scale Tests for Nuclear Waste Disposal. In: Tarantino, A., Romero, E., Cui, YJ. (eds) Laboratory and Field Testing of Unsaturated Soils. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8819-3_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8819-3_13
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-8818-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-8819-3
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)