Design of bentonite/crushed rock seals

Summary The use of bentonite/crushed rock mixtures to form hydraulic barriers has greatly increased in recent years. To obtain an appropriate composition for such mixture sealants generally requires extensive laboratory work. Bentonite content and gradation of the crushed rock component are two key parameters in the seal design. This study investigates the effect of crushed rock gradation on the bulk porosity and permeability of systems of crushed tuff particles. Five different gradations are selected from the literature. The bulk porosity of systems of crushed tuff in the presence of bentonite is examined. The Fuller-Thompson gradations yield denser particle arrangements. For mixture samples containing 15% bentonite by weight, the amount of clay accounts for only 45 to 56% of the weight required to fill the interparticle pore space. The bentonite occupancy percentage amounts to 65 to 80% and 75 to 86.5% for samples having 25 and 35% bentonite by weight, respectively. The water content of bentonite at saturation is reduced and the resistance to piping and flow of bentonite is enhanced by the addition of clay. To reduce the bulk porosities of the mixtures containing 25% or more bentonite, a compaction energy higher than the standard Proctor compaction is necessary.     

流-固耦合模型试验用的新型相似材料研制及应用

为研究隧道突水、突泥过程中断层及围岩各物理场变化规律,根据地质力学模型试验相似原理,通过大量多组别配比试验,研制出适用于流-固耦合模型试验的新型断层及围岩相似材料。其中,断层相似材料以砂为粗骨料,滑石粉为细骨料,石膏、膨润土作为胶结剂,液态石蜡作为调节剂;围岩相似材料以砂为粗骨料,重晶石粉、滑石粉为细骨料,白水泥及乳胶作为胶结剂。通过大量室内试验,对比分析原岩及相似材料变形特征及强度破坏特性,重点对单轴抗压强度、渗透系数、重度、泊松比、弹性模量等重要变形及水理特性参量进行调控,系统研究不同配比对材料参数的影响规律。试验结果表明：该材料力学参数变化范围广、性能稳定、操作工艺简单,可用来模拟不同渗透系数的低、中等强度岩体材料。将该相似材料应用于吉莲高速公路永莲隧道断层突水、突泥三维地质力学模型试验中,力学性能及水理特性均达到试验要求,能够有效地模拟突水、突泥的发展演变过程,真实反映断层灾变过程中各物理场响应规律。     

北山花岗岩岩屑-膨润土混合材料导热性能研究

高放废物地质处置库缓冲/回填材料的重要作用之一是传导和散失高放废物衰变热,在膨润土中添加石英砂、石墨、花岗岩岩屑等导热性能较好的添加剂是提高缓冲/回填材料导热性能的主要方法。选用北山花岗岩岩屑为添加剂,与高庙子钠基膨润土GMZ01组成混合材料,制备不同含水率、不同密度的试样。使用Hot Disk TPS2500s热常数分析仪测定样品的导热系数,分析其与花岗岩岩屑含量、干密度、饱和度等参数的关系,并运用多种混合物热传导模型分析预测导热系数。研究结果表明,花岗岩岩屑能够有效提高缓冲/回填材料的导热性能,混合材料的导热系数分别与其饱和度、气体体积存在线性关系;Maxwell方程能够较好预测北山花岗岩岩屑-膨润土混合材料的导热系数。     

考虑膨胀效应UH模型的有限元实现

高庙子膨润土已被确定为我国高放废物地质处置的首选缓冲/回填材料,进行其力学特性及应用模拟研究对合理设计处置库具有十分重要的意义。考虑膨胀效应的UH模型是在超固结非饱和土本构模型（非饱和土UH模型）的基础上提出的,因引入了土体团粒的吸水膨胀作用,使其适用于非饱和膨润土。基于有限元软件ABAQUS的二次开发平台,利用Fortran语言编制模型的UMAT（user-difined material）材料子程序,进行了考虑膨胀效应UH模型的有限元实现。然后针对高放废物处置概念模型,利用编制的模型子程序对高放废物处置系统进行了三维有限元模拟,并对渗流场和应力场的演化规律进行了初步探究。模拟结果显示处置系统中膨润土的内应力增加,土体的稳定性较好,说明选择高庙子膨润土作为缓冲/回填材料的合理性,也同时验证了程序的正确性。     

Erosion of bentonite particles at the interface of a compacted bentonite and a fractured granite

Compacted bentonite has been considered as a candidate buffer material in the underground repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste. An erosion of bentonite particles caused by a groundwater flow at the interface of a compacted bentonite and a fractured granite was studied experimentally under various geochemical conditions. The experimental results showed that bentonite particles could be eroded from a compacted bentonite buffer by a flowing groundwater depending upon the contact time, the flow rate of the groundwater, and the geochemical parameters of the groundwater such as the pH and ionic strength.

A gel formation of the bentonite was observed to be a dominant process in the erosion of bentonite particles although an intrusion of bentonite into a rock fracture also contributed to the erosion. The concentration of the eroded bentonite particles eroded by a flowing groundwater was increased with an increasing flow rate of the groundwater. It was observed from the experiments that the erosion of the bentonite particles was considerably affected by the ionic strength of a groundwater although the effect of the pH was not great within the studied pH range from 7 to 10. An erosion of the bentonite particles in a natural groundwater was also observed to be considerable and the eroded bentonite particles are expected to be stable at the given groundwater condition.

The erosion of the bentonite particles by a flowing groundwater did not significantly reduce the physical stability and thus the performance of a compacted bentonite buffer. However, it is expected that an erosion of the bentonite particles due to a groundwater flow will generate bentonite particles in a given groundwater condition, which can serve as a source of the colloids facilitating radionuclide migration through rock fractures.     

辽西火山岩型膨润土矿床成矿作用的研究

辽西膨润土矿床主要岩石类型为熔岩、火山碎屑岩,经热液蚀变成矿。蚀变带的岩石基本类型为玻屑灰岩,主要的蚀变类型为蒙脱石化作用和硅化作用。通过矿床蚀变带岩矿石化学分析,总结了火山碎屑岩－－熔蚀变改变造型膨润土矿的成矿作用地球化学特征和成矿机理。     

辽西紫都台-于寺盆地膨润土矿岩石矿物学特征研究

对紫都台-于寺盆地内二道河、哈尔套、北窝棚及下扎兰波罗等膨润土矿床进行了系统采样、处理,开展与矿床相关的赋矿岩系岩石学及矿物学特征研究.通过基本分析、XRD、化学全分析、阳离子交换量等手段对样品进行测试,研究结果表明沉凝灰岩、流纹质熔结凝灰岩、砂砾质凝灰岩等富含火山玻璃的岩石更易于水解形成膨润土矿.膨润土总体呈碱性,矿...     

膨润土与石英的粒度分析方法优选

采用淘析法、激光粒度分析法、渗透过滤法、显微镜法对膨润土及石英的粒度进行测量比较分析。实验结果表明：4种方法得到的粒度由大到小依次为淘析法、激光粒度分析法、显微镜法、渗透过滤法;由于凝聚的影响,淘析法与激光粒度分析法测试结果粒度偏大;渗透法分析结果与显微镜法结果较为接近;膨润土在水中崩解的粒度比石英要小,但采用沉降法分离提纯,膨润土比石英更易于团聚,因此在湿法提纯研究中,有必要添加分散剂。     

Evaluation of a compacted bentonite/sand seal for underground waste repository isolation

This study investigates the performance of an optimum compacted bentonite/sand mixture seal for the isolation of underground waste repositories. Engineering geological tests such as compaction, flow, swelling, mechanical and shear strength tests have been conducted to select an optimum mixture and to recommend a stable bentonite/sand seal length-to-radius ratio (L/a) as far as the factor of safety (F) is concerned. The results of the compaction permeameter tests led to a recommendation to select an optimum compacted bentonite/sand mixture possessing a bentonite content of about 20% to satisfy the minimum regulatory hydraulic conductivity requirement. Engineering geological analysis of the seal/rock mechanical interaction with regard to reduce the possibility of seal slip led to a recommendation to utilize a seal L/a of at least 25.     

Characterisation of rock aggregate breakage properties using realistic texture‐based modelling

Realistic texture‐based modelling methods, that is microstructural modelling and micromechanical modelling, are developed to simulate the rock aggregate breakage properties on the basis of the rock actual microstructure obtained using microscopic observations and image analysis. The breakage properties of three types of rocks, that is Avja, LEP and Vandle taken from three quarries in Sweden, in single aggregate breakage tests and in inter‐aggregate breakage tests are then modelled using the proposed methods. The microstructural modelling directly integrates the microscopic observation, image analysis and numerical simulation together and provides a valuable tool to investigate the mechanical properties of rock aggregates on the basis of their microstructure properties. The micromechanical modelling takes the most important microstructure properties of rock aggregates into consideration and can model the major mechanical properties. Throughout this study, it is concluded that in general, the microstructure properties of rock aggregate work together to affect their mechanical properties, and it is difficult to correlate a single microstructure property with the mechanical properties of rock aggregates. In particular, for the three types of rock Avja, LEP and Vandle in this study, crack size distribution, grain size and grain perimeter (i.e. grain shape and spatial arrangement) show good correlations with the mechanical properties. The crack length and the grain size negatively affect the mechanical properties of Avja, LEP and Vandle, but the perimeter positively influences the mechanical properties. Besides, the modelled rock aggregate breakage properties in both single aggregate and inter‐aggregate tests reveal that the aggregate microstructure, aggregate shape and loading conditions influence the breakage process of rock aggregate in service. For the rock aggregate with the same microstructure, the quadratic shape and good packing dramatically improve its mechanical properties. During services, the aggregate is easiest to be fragmented under point‐to‐point loading condition, and then in the sequence of multiple‐point, point‐to‐plane and plane‐to‐plane loading conditions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

土石混合料大型直剪试验的颗粒离散元细观力学模拟研究

土石混合料作为一种特殊的岩土介质越来越受到国内外众多研究者的重视。基于3维颗粒离散元PFC3D,建立了土石混合料直剪试验模型,进行了不同含石量、不同岩性的土石混合料直剪试验模拟研究。颗粒离散元模拟结果表明,土石混合料的石料岩性和含石量在很大程度上控制了土石混合料的抗剪强度特性。硬岩混合料的摩擦角普遍比软岩混合料大6°～ 7°,含石量为60%～80%时达到最大。土石混合料的剪切面不再是一个平面,其起伏度随含石量增加而增大。剪切过程中软岩混合料在低正应力下表现为剪胀,高正应力下表现为剪缩,并产生软化现象,硬岩混合料表现为剪胀和塑性;软岩土石混合料剪切过程中能量以应变能和动能为主,而硬岩土石混合料的能量以摩擦能和动能为主。     

膨润土在土木工程中的应用与机理

由于膨润土中蒙脱石矿物特殊的晶体结构,使其具备了许多优良的技术物理特性。从而使膨润土作为各种地下工程结构和屋面的防水材料、岩土裂隙灌浆材料、槽孔护壁稳定材料以及矿岩防灭火材料等,在土木工程中得到日益广泛的应用。并显示出良好的应用前景。     

Modeling of Coupled Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Processes with Links to Geochemistry Associated with Bentonite-Backfilled Repository Tunnels in Clay Formations

This paper presents simulation results related to coupled thermal–hydraulic–mechanical (THM) processes in engineered barrier systems (EBS) and clay host rock, in one case considering a possible link to geochemistry. This study is part of the US DOE Office of Nuclear Energy’s used fuel disposition campaign, to investigate current modeling capabilities and to identify issues and knowledge gaps associated with coupled THMC processes and EBS–rock interactions associated with repositories hosted in clay rock. In this study, we simulated a generic repository case assuming an EBS design with waste emplacement in horizontal tunnels that are back-filled with bentonite-based swelling clay as a protective buffer and heat load, derived for one type of US reactor spent fuel. We adopted the Barcelona basic model (BBM) for modeling of the geomechanical behavior of the bentonite, using properties corresponding to the FEBEX bentonite, and we used clay host rock properties derived from the Opalinus clay at Mont Terri, Switzerland. We present results related to EBS host–rock interactions and geomechanical performance in general, as well as studies related to peak temperature, buffer resaturation and thermally induced pressurization of host rock pore water, and swelling pressure change owing to variation of chemical composition in the EBS. Our initial THM modeling results show strong THM-driven interactions between the bentonite buffer and the low-permeability host rock. The resaturation of the buffer is delayed as a result of the low rock permeability, and the fluid pressure in the host rock is strongly coupled with the temperature changes, which under certain circumstances could result in a significant increase in pore pressure. Moreover, using the BBM, the bentonite buffer was found to have a rather complex geomechanical behavior that eventually leads to a slightly nonuniform density distribution. Nevertheless, the simulation shows that the swelling of the buffer is functioning to provide an adequate increase in confining stress on the tunnel wall, leading to a stabilization of any failure that may occur during the tunnel excavation. Finally, we describe the application of a possible approach for linking THM processes with chemistry, focusing on the evolution of primary and secondary swelling, in which the secondary swelling is caused by changes in ionic concentration, which in turn is evaluated using a transport simulation model.     

湿化膨胀与掺砂率对混合型缓冲材料THM耦合过程的影响分析

加入辅助骨料后的混合型缓冲材料在保留了材料密封和防渗能力的同时,克服了纯膨润土导热系数低、施工性差的缺点,作为高放废物处置库缓冲材料的备选材料正在成为新的研究热点。基于室内试验数据,以多孔介质非饱和渗流理论为基础,考虑了膨润土湿化膨胀及密度、饱和度、导热系数等材料物理性质参数的实时变化,利用COMSOL Multiphysics软件建立了包含一条巷道及单个井孔的3D网格模型,计算模拟了100 a间屏障系统中膨润土-石英砂混合型缓冲材料的THM多场耦合演化过程,分析了各物理量的时间演化及空间分布规律,并通过不同工况分析了材料湿化膨胀以及掺砂率对屏障系统演化过程的影响。系统中材料温度、饱和度与距固化体、岩壁的距离呈相关性,应力整体以受压为主,变形呈先压缩后膨胀的趋势。其中,膨润土基材料的湿化膨胀作用对温度演化的影响很小,但会略微加速饱和进程,并使材料的应力-应变出现明显的时间演化及区域分布差异。井孔和巷道中靠近岩壁区域的应力上升较快,并且在巷道底板与井孔交界处出现了显著的竖向位移。提高掺量可以有效降低罐体表面温度,增强屏障系统散热能力,降低缓冲材料的历史最大应力,有效控制井孔轴线上的竖向位移,但也会削弱系统的防渗能力。     

松辽盆地东南隆起区营城组火山岩蚀变改造型膨润土类型、成因及分布规律——以九台市膨润土矿为例

松辽盆地营城组火山岩蚀变转化为膨润土或发生膨润土化现象较普遍,出露较大型的膨润土矿主要在九台银矿山一带。矿床与下伏沙河子组煤系地层呈不整合接触。通过火山岩岩性、岩石序列关系、微观特征及X-衍射分析等研究认为：膨润土类型可划分为低沸石型膨润土和高沸石型膨润土;珍珠岩、含角砾流纹质（玻璃质）凝灰熔岩和玻璃质火山碎屑岩为主要成矿原岩,成岩期后流体及流体的运移通道是决定其是否蚀变的主要因素;从成矿原岩转化为膨润土,即火山玻璃（珍珠岩）-沸石岩-膨润土的变化规律反应在岩石序列关系上表现为蚀变作用逐渐增强,岩石的硬度-颜色逐渐变弱,岩石的组构特征逐渐消失的过程;矿体发育厚度、横向连续性受火山机构的影响,具有很强的非均质性,一般在侵出相内+中带亚相、爆发相空落亚相和热碎屑流亚相是膨润土矿形成的最有利相带,另外岩性为玻璃质流纹岩的喷溢相也是膨润土形成的主要相带。     

湿化膨胀与掺砂率对混合型缓冲材料THM耦合过程的影响分析

加入辅助骨料后的混合型缓冲材料在保留了材料密封和防渗能力的同时,克服了纯膨润土导热系数低、施工性差的缺点,作为高放废物处置库缓冲材料的备选材料正在成为新的研究热点。基于室内试验数据,以多孔介质非饱和渗流理论为基础,考虑了膨润土湿化膨胀及密度、饱和度、导热系数等材料物理性质参数的实时变化,利用COMSOL Multiphysics软件建立了包含一条巷道及单个井孔的3D网格模型,计算模拟了100 a间屏障系统中膨润土-石英砂混合型缓冲材料的THM多场耦合演化过程,分析了各物理量的时间演化及空间分布规律,并通过不同工况分析了材料湿化膨胀以及掺砂率对屏障系统演化过程的影响。系统中材料温度、饱和度与距固化体、岩壁的距离呈相关性,应力整体以受压为主,变形呈先压缩后膨胀的趋势。其中,膨润土基材料的湿化膨胀作用对温度演化的影响很小,但会略微加速饱和进程,并使材料的应力-应变出现明显的时间演化及区域分布差异。井孔和巷道中靠近岩壁区域的应力上升较快,并且在巷道底板与井孔交界处出现了显著的竖向位移。提高掺量可以有效降低罐体表面温度,增强屏障系统散热能力,降低缓冲材料的历史最大应力,有效控制井孔轴线上的竖向位移,但也会削弱系统的防渗能力。     

基于膨润土凝胶分形结构的屈服强度理论

在核废料处置库安全使用的设计年限（数万年至数十万年）内,膨润土遇水侵蚀,导致缓冲/回填层致密性降低、渗透性增加,危及核废料处置库安全。膨润土侵蚀是以膨润土凝胶形式迁移,膨润土凝胶的屈服强度就是侵蚀的临界剪切应力。膨润土凝胶颗粒之间的联结靠颗粒间的长程作用,即van der Waals力,颗粒间的联结作用取决于凝胶的结构。本文基于膨润土凝胶结构的分形模型,假设凝胶的屈服强度等于冲刷面上单位面积的van der Waals力的总和,导出了膨润土凝胶的屈服强度（σ_y）的表达式,表示为凝胶的固体体积率（φ_s）的幂函数,即σ_y=σ_y0φ_sm,幂函数的指数是凝胶结构分维的函数。膨润土凝胶的屈服强度理论得到了试验数据的验证。     

Mechanisms and Models for Bentonite Erosion Used for Geologic Disposal of High Level Radioactive Waste: A Review

The performance of the bentonite buffer in nuclear waste repository concept relies to a great extent on the buffer surrounding the canister having sufficient dry density. Loss of buffer material caused by erosion remains as the most significant process reducing the density of the buffer. In the worst case, the process is assumed to last as long as the free volume between the pellets in the pellets filled regions is filled with groundwater. Erosion rate and mass erosion are calculated based on the erosion model, and the measures are presented to prevent the geological disaster due to bentonite erosion. The groundwaters may solubilise the smectite particles in the bentonite and carry them away as colloidal particles. A dynamic model is developed for sodium gel expansion in fractures where the gel soaks up groundwater as it expands. The model is based on a force balance between and on smectite particles, which move in the water. Attractive van der Waals forces, repulsive electric diffuse layer (DDL) forces, gravity and buoyancy forces and forces caused by the gradient of chemical potential of the particles act to move the particle in the water. The effect of the fracture width and the frictions between particles and water and surrouding rock is analysed based on erosion model. The DDL forces strongly depend on the type of clay minerals and the type of ion and concentration in the water surrounding the particles. In the designed safe use of nuclear waste disposal (tens of thousands of years to hundreds of thousands of years), the safety of nuclear waste disposal is affected by the hydrodynamic and chemical effects, and bentonite erosion. Due to the bentonite erosion, the buffer/backfill layers become loose, and their permeability increases, which causes the nuclear element diffusion and convection, and even the nuclear disaster. In this paper, the mechanisms, models, experiments and control measures of bentonite erosion were systematically summarized. The current deficiencies of bentonite erosion were pointed out, and new methods were put forward to carry out the research for bentonite erosion. The measures were presented to prevent the geological disaster due to bentonite erosion through changes. The project is not only academic innovation, but also has a large practical significance. The research results of this project can be widely applied to the design, construction and maintenance of the bentonite buffer in nuclear waste repository.     

The mobility of rare-earth and other elements in the process of alteration of rhyolitic rocks to bentonite (Lebombo Volcanic Mountainous Chain, Mozambique)

Ca-type bentonite deposits of economic interest occur associated with rhyolitic rocks in the Lebombo volcanics. From previous geological studies on the deposits, besides the economic aspects, little is known about the main formation mechanism of beds of bentonite that can be more than 15 m thick, in some places. Chemical analyses of bentonite samples indicate that elements such as Ca, Mg, Sr, Zn, Cu and Sc are markedly enriched in bentonite in comparison to the parent rock. Other elements such as K, Na, Rb and Ba are depleted in bentonite. HREE (Yb, Lu) and Y are depleted in the bentonite samples, as well as Cs, Rb, Ta, U, Ba, Co, Cr and Pb. Concentrations of the LREE (La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu), Sc and Ga are slightly higher in the bentonites than in the parent rocks. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns show identical trends both in the rhyolites and bentonites samples. Alteration of the parent rocks to bentonite is associated with leaching and subsequent removal of, principally, K and Na in open-system conditions.     

Plutonium diffusivity in compacted bentonite

Measurements on plutonium diffusivity in water-saturated compacted bentonite were carried out. Representative specimens of sodium bentonite were taken from the Tsukinuno and Kuroishi mines situated in northeast Japan. Tsukinuno bentonite was divided into three types: raw type, purified Na-type, and H-type which was prepared by treating Na-type bentonite with hydrochloric acid. Kuroishi bentonite contained chlorite as impurity. H-type bentonite was used as reference for the convenience of profile measurement in bentonite, since plutonium diffusivity in H-type bentonite was considered to be larger than that in Na-type bentonite because of low pH and low swelling pressure of H-type bentonite.

Sampled bentonite was compacted into pellets of 20 mm in diameter and 20 mm in height. Bulk densities of these specimens were 1200–1800 kg/m³ for purified Na-type and H-type bentonite and 1600 kg/m³ for raw type bentonite.

Plutonium profiles obtained in H-type bentonite can be explained by diffusion equation with constant concentration source. Diffusivity ranges from 10^-13 to 10¹² m²/s for H-type and Kuroishi impure sodium bentonite. Diffusivity in both raw type and purified Tsukinuno bentonite was was estimated to less than 10^-14 M²/s. Diffusivity in H-type bentonite showed a tendency to decrease with increasing density. Influence of in bentonite was also studied. Quartz content up to 50% or hematite content up to 1% did not influence diffusivity significantly in H-type bentonite.

The chemical species of plutonium in pore water of Na-type and H-type were estimated Pu(OH)₃^-; and PuO₂^- , respectively.