高压实膨润土热湿耦合效应实验室模拟

本文研究了作为高放废物深地质处置库最后一道人工屏障－缓冲层在热湿耦合艇下的宏观表现,通过自行设计的实验,得到了一些有益的启示,初步认为在本研究涉及的时间范围内,水势场对高压实膨润土中温度场分布影响较小,而温度场对其中水分运移有一定影响。文中介绍了有关实验设计、实验步骤,实验结果与分析,对多孔介质中传热传质研究及高放废物深地质处理有一定参考价值。．     

高压实膨润土热湿力性能测试

本文介绍了高压实样品的制样特点,测试了高压实膨润土样的导热系数,热膨胀系数,对高压实膨润土热湿力特性研究有较大参考价值。     

Investigating the swelling pressure of highly compacted bentonite/sand mixtures under constant-volume conditions

Acta Geotechnica - Compacted bentonite/sand mixtures are often considered as sealing/backfilling materials in deep geological disposal for radioactive waste. This study investigates the swelling...     

膨润土性能温度效应研究进展

通过文献调研、资料总结和分析,阐述了温度对膨润土诸多性状的影响。膨润土中孔隙水的化学成分因温度变化而发生改变,温度的增加使膨润土中内水、外水的含量发生改变,从而影响土的水合力大小。以OPHELIE膨润土实验为例,介绍了温度对膨润土内部孔隙大小的影响。此外,还对目前膨润土持水能力与膨胀力的温度效应进行了阐述。     

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.     

Diffusion of uranium in compacted sodium bentonite

Sorption and diffusion of uranium in sodium bentonite MX-80 were measured in aerobic conditions. The batch method was used for the sorption measurements and the steady state method for the diffusion measurements. Clear sorption was noticed only when high uranium concentrations were used so that the pH of the solution decreased.

The diffusivities of uranium were strongly dependent on the compaction of bentonite so that in the highly compacted samples the diffusion was very restricted. Uranium shows both features of ion-exclusion and sorption. Further studies are, however, needed to explain the diffusion mechanisms of uranium.     

Investigation on gas migration behaviours in saturated compacted bentonite under rigid boundary conditions

Acta Geotechnica - To ensure the long-term safety and performance efficiency of a deep geological repository for disposal of high-level radioactive waste, understanding and assessment of gas...     

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.     

An unsaturated hydraulic conductivity model for compacted GMZ01 bentonite with consideration of temperature

As one of the most important properties of compacted bentonite used as buffer/backfill materials, hydraulic conductivity is influenced by various factors including temperature, microstructure and suction (or degree of saturation), etc. Based on the readily available results of both temperature-controlled water-retention tests and unsaturated infiltration tests under confined (constant volume) conditions, influences of temperature and microstructure variations on unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of the compacted Gaomiaozi (GMZ01) bentonite were analyzed. Then, a revised unsaturated hydraulic conductivity model considering temperature effects and microstructure changes was developed. With this proposed model, prediction and comparison were made on the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of the compacted GMZ01 bentonite at 20 °C. Results show that water-retention capacity of compacted GMZ01 bentonite decreases as temperature increases and the degree of the temperature influence depends on suction. Under confined conditions, influence of hydration on microstructure of compacted GMZ01 bentonite depends on pore size. The proposed model can well describe the variations of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity with suction at different temperatures. However, further improvement of the proposed model is needed to account for the phenomenon of inter-aggregate pores clogging that occurred at the initial stage of hydration of compacted GMZ01 bentonite under confined conditions.     

Numerical modelling on water retention and permeability of compacted GMZ bentonite under free-swelling conditions

In this study, a solid–liquid–gas coupled equation was established to simulate water retention characteristics of highly compacted GMZ bentonite. Then, modelling results were compared with laboratory test results. Results indicate that GMZ bentonite has a strong moisture expansion (or a limit drying shrinkage) characteristic. The control equation can simulate the water absorption and deformation characteristics very well at high relative humidity (or low suction). Environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) observation reveals the course grain soil texture of the surface under low relative humidity (RH), while the surface of GMZ bentonite becomes smooth (more fine-grained soil texture) as RH increases. Differences were found between the porosities calculated by macroexperiment results and microscopic observations with ESEM method. This is because only the interaggregate pores can be observed by ESEM photographs. Additionally, we find that the simulated effective porosities are close to the results calculated by microscopic tests, while the effective porosity is considered as the main flow channel of flow. Further, the intrinsic permeability, the effective water and gas permeability are calculated based on the proposed model. The modelling results coincide well with the laboratory experimental results and support the reliability of the proposed model.     

A natural analogue of nuclear waste glass in compacted bentonite

A marine based argillaceous rock containing volcanic glass shards has been investigated to infer the long-term durability of vitrified nuclear waste in compacted bentonite, which is a candidate for buffer material constituting the engineered barrier system for nuclear waste disposal. Fission track ages indicate that the volcanic glass shards, andesitic scoria, have been buried in the argillaceous rock for about 1 Ma. Neither glass matrix dissolution nor precipitation on the surface was seen under an optical microscope. Little leaching of any element has been recognized by analyses using an electron microprobe analyzer. Secondary ion mass spectrometry analysis, however, indicates significant hydration which may dominantly be a permeation of molecular water.As an indicator of durability of glass against groundwater a normalized mass loss of Si (NL_Si) has been evaluated for the volcanic glass based on free energy for hydration. The difference between estimated NL_Si of the volcanic glass and that of a simulated waste glass is within one order so that the volcanic glass may be analogous to a waste glass with respect to durability to water. The argillaceous rock is analogous to the compacted bentonite with respect to physical properties such as dry-density, unconfined compression strength, porosity, and hydraulic conductivity. The ambient physical and chemical conditions surrounding the volcanic glass have been also investigated: temperature was in the range from 4 to 30°C due to the burial history of the volcanic glass. Over most of the past 1 Ma the volcanic glass has been in contact with groundwater originating from seawater. Thermodynamic calculations indicate (1) pH (=7.74–7.94) of the groundwater has mainly been controlled by dissolution of carbonate minerals, (2) the redox potential (Eh=−34–−73 mV) of the groundwater has dominantly been controlled by decomposition of organic materials to produce CH₄(g), and (3) activity of aqueous silica of the groundwater was in equilibrium with SiO₂ amorphous. Because of the equilibrium between aqueous silica and SiO₂ amorphous, the volcanic glass did not dissolve during the burial.Vitrified nuclear waste sealed in compacted bentonite, therefore, will not dissolve significantly if buried in an environment as mentioned above.     

渗流条件下含裂缝压实膨润土应力及渗透性能试验研究

压实膨润土是放射性废物处置库的理想缓冲/回填材料,但它在失水收缩过程中易产生裂缝,该裂缝在浸水条件下能否愈合是放射性废物处置安全评价中的重要课题。其研究对含纵向单裂缝的压实膨润土样品开展渗透试验,以渗透系数、隙面法向应力及含水率为指标,研究含裂缝压实膨润土吸水膨胀后应力及渗透性能的变化,从而评价裂缝对膨润土屏障层性能的影响。研究结果表明,样品渗透系数随时间逐渐递减,隙面法向应力随时间逐渐递增,且在85 d时两参数达到稳定水平,分别为4.6410~(-10)m/s和2.5 MPa,与完整压实膨润土样品的渗透系数及内部应力处于相同水平,可以认为,此时土体实现了饱和及均一化。该研究从渗透性和应力角度证实了裂缝对压实膨润土渗透系数及应力参数未产生显著影响,膨润土具有较好的自愈合能力。研究建立了膨润土裂缝自愈合效果评价方法,为膨润土作为回填材料的安全性评价提供理论依据。     

Research on water retention and microstructure characteristics of compacted GMZ bentonite under free swelling conditions

In this study, water retention tests under free swelling conditions were performed to investigate the water intake (or loss) behaviour of compacted GMZ bentonite. First, the water retention characteristics were investigated, and then the microscopic pore structure was observed by environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). The results indicate that GMZ bentonite has a strong swelling (or a limited shrinkage ability) due to water intake (loss). The suction behaviour of GMZ bentonite is similar to MX80 bentonite and FEBEX bentonite. We also find that the confinement conditions can affect the suction behaviour of the material, especially at high relative humidity (RH). Additionally, a mathematic model can fit the mass change data very well. Microscopic tests show that the granular sensation of GMZ bentonite is obvious for a sample at low RH. With the increase in RH, the surface of GMZ bentonite becomes more smooth. The differences in the porosities calculated by the macroscopic and microscopic tests can be attributed to image resolution. The inter-laminar pores and intra-aggregate pores cannot be observed by the ESEM method. In addition, ESEM observation can provide an intuitive basis for the further research of the seepage property of GMZ bentonite.     

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.     

Fracture sealing of quartzite under a temperature gradient: experimental results

Veined lithologies are formed by fracturing and sealing processes, with the veins representing former fluid conduits through the rock. Although detailed fieldwork and numerical simulations have provided a better understanding of vein growth, few studies have attempted to seal fractures and generate veins experimentally. In this pilot study, we subjected fractured quartzite to temperature gradients of 45–125 °C under hydrothermal conditions in a static fluid, with the aim of precipitating secondary quartz in the cooler portions of the fracture. Results show that secondary quartz precipitates due to the imposed temperature gradient, causing the initial fracture to seal locally. Although no systematic sealing pattern was observed along the fracture, samples subjected to higher temperatures exhibit a smaller fracture width and appear to have reacted more extensively. Electron microprobe mapping visualizes the spatial distribution of secondary quartz, which contains elevated concentrations of aluminium.     

An upscaling method and a numerical analysis of swelling/shrinking processes in a compacted bentonite/sand mixture

This paper presents an upscaling concept of swelling/shrinking processes of a compacted bentonite/sand mixture, which also applies to swelling of porous media in general. A constitutive approach for highly compacted bentonite/sand mixture is developed accordingly. The concept is based on the diffuse double layer theory and connects microstructural properties of the bentonite as well as chemical properties of the pore fluid with swelling potential. Main factors influencing the swelling potential of bentonite, i.e. variation of water content, dry density, chemical composition of pore fluid, as well as the microstructures and the amount of swelling minerals are taken into account. According to the proposed model, porosity is divided into interparticle and interlayer porosity. Swelling is the potential of interlayer porosity increase, which reveals itself as volume change in the case of free expansion, or turns to be swelling pressure in the case of constrained swelling. The constitutive equations for swelling/shrinking are implemented in the software GeoSys/RockFlow as a new chemo‐hydro‐mechanical model, which is able to simulate isothermal multiphase flow in bentonite. Details of the mathematical and numerical multiphase flow formulations, as well as the code implementation are described. The proposed model is verified using experimental data of tests on a highly compacted bentonite/sand mixture. Comparison of the 1D modelling results with the experimental data evidences the capability of the proposed model to satisfactorily predict free swelling of the material under investigation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Gas migration behavior in saturated bentonite under flexible conditions with consideration of temperature effects

Acta Geotechnica - Investigation of thermal effects on gas migration behavior in saturated bentonite materials is of great significance for the assessment of long-term safety and performance...     

Self-diffusion of water and its dependence on temperature and ionic strength in highly compacted montmorillonite, illite and kaolinite

The effect of temperature and ionic strength on the diffusion of HTO parallel to the direction of compaction through 5 highly compacted clay minerals (bulk dry density, ρ_b,d = 1.90 ± 0.05 Mg/m³), namely montmorillonite (Na- and Ca-form), illite (Na- and Ca-form), and kaolinite, was studied. The diffusion experiments were carried out at temperatures between 0 °C and 60 °C and at ionic strengths of 0.01 M and 1 M NaCl for the Na-form clays and kaolinite, and of 0.005 M and 0.5 M CaCl₂ for the Ca-form. The ionic strength had an insignificant influence on the values of the effective diffusion coefficient (variation by less than 10%) for the clays under study at this degree of compaction. The effective diffusion coefficients followed the order Na-montmorillonite < Ca-montmorillonite < Ca-illite < Na-illite  kaolinite. It is thought that the differences between Na- and Ca-montmorillonite originate from the larger size particles, and thus the lower tortuosity of the latter; whereas the differences between Na- and Ca-illite are related to the different degree of solvation of the Na and Ca cations. The activation energies were successfully calculated using the Arrhenius law. Swelling clays (Na- and Ca-montmorillonite) had slightly larger activation energy values (20 kJ/mol) compared to bulk water (17 kJ/mol); Ca-illite (16 kJ/mol), Na-illite (13 kJ/mol) and kaolinite (14.4 kJ/mol) lower values than that of bulk water. The low activation energies of the last three clays may be related to weaker H-bonds between water and the clay surfaces compared to those in bulk water.     

温度循环下压实粗粒盐渍土水盐迁移与变形响应

“一带一路”规划的高速铁路频繁穿梭于盐质荒漠区,沿线优质不含盐路基填料极其匮乏。为解决粗粒盐渍土填筑高速铁路路基面临的技术难题,结合伊朗德伊高铁建设,以现场粗粒盐渍土路基填料为对象,开展了温度循环下压实粗粒盐渍土水盐迁移与变形响应试验研究。结果表明,每次温度循环后温度波幅值由土层浅表向深层土体衰减传递,土体埋深越浅、恒温时间越长,温度波幅值越大;水盐均匀分布的压实粗粒盐渍土经历多次温度循环后逐渐演化成非均匀分布,水盐向土体表面迁移聚集,越靠近土体表面水盐增量越大;前5次温度循环中压实粗粒盐渍土产生了塑性盐胀或塑性融沉,随着温度循环次数增加,盐渍土塑性盐胀或塑性融沉显著减小甚至消失;盐渍土层上设置非盐渍土层具有迟滞盐分向上迁移和消能减胀作用,粗粒盐渍土构筑高速铁路路基宜采用结构分层技术,非盐渍土层设置厚度一般不宜小于当地温度辐射影响显著深度;粗粒盐渍土路基设计宜考虑多次温度循环后形成的水盐非均质分布及其可能诱发的盐胀与融沉增大效应,路基压实度不宜过高。研究成果将为盐渍土地区高速铁路路基工程建造起到示范参考作用。