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Coupled HM effects in a crystalline rock mass due to glaciation: indicative results from groundwater flow regimes and stresses from an FEM study

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Abstract

This paper highlights certain aspects of glacial impact on groundwater flow and rock mechanics, of particular interest in future scenarios for the geological disposal of nuclear waste. The investigation took the form of a generic exercise based on conditions at the underground research facility in Whiteshell, Canada. The site scale model domain boundaries were set up based on a number of major deformation zones. The surface boundary conditions comprised a transient ice sheet load and related hydraulic heads, generated by meltwater. It has thus been possible to compare glacial impact in relation to present-day climatological conditions. The main issues in the investigation were to evaluate the groundwater flow regime and the pre-requisites for underground jacking as well as shearing according to the prescribed geoscientific properties of a benchmark protocol. Special attention has been devoted to a solution to the hydromechanical (HM) problem (1) with or without process coupling, (2) with or without a transient approach, and (3) considering a two- or three-dimensional mode. The study underlines the need for transient analyses in 3D of these coupled phenomena.

Résumé

L’article met en lumière certains aspects d’un impact glaciaire sur l’écoulement des eaux souterraines et le comportement mécanique des roches, avec un intérêt particulier pour l’étude de scénarios relatifs au stockage de déchets radioactifs en formations géologiques. La recherche a pris la forme d’un exercice générique basé sur les conditions du laboratoire souterrain de Whiteshell, au Canada. Les conditions aux limites du modèle ont pris en compte les différentes zones de déformation majeure du site. Les conditions aux limites de surface considèrent le chargement transitoire d’une calotte glaciaire et les charges hydrauliques correspondantes, générées par les eaux de fonte. Ainsi, il a été possible de comparer l’impact glaciaire avec les conditions climatiques actuelles. Les principaux thèmes de la recherche portaient sur l’évaluation du régime des eaux souterraines et les facteurs de prédisposition au claquage hydraulique et au cisaillement, suivant les propriétés géotechniques fournies par un protocole d’exercice normalisé. Une attention particulière a été portée sur une solution au problème hydromécanique (HM) (i) avec ou sans couplage des processus, (ii) avec ou sans approche transitoire et (iii) considérant une analyse à deux ou trois dimensions. L’étude souligne la nécessité de réaliser des analyses en mode transitoire, à trois dimensions, pour ces phénomènes couplés.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the work of colleagues Rolf Christiansson at SKB and Jan Hernelind at FemTech as well as fruitful discussions with the other modelling teams involved in the project. The work presented here is funded by SKB and EC, and their financial contributions are greatly appreciated.

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  1. Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden

    Patrik Vidstrand, Thomas Wallroth & Lars O. Ericsson

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  1. Patrik Vidstrand
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  2. Thomas Wallroth
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  3. Lars O. Ericsson
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Correspondence to Lars O. Ericsson.

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Vidstrand, P., Wallroth, T. & Ericsson, L.O. Coupled HM effects in a crystalline rock mass due to glaciation: indicative results from groundwater flow regimes and stresses from an FEM study. Bull Eng Geol Environ 67, 187–197 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-008-0123-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-008-0123-8

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