Hydromechanical modelling of the SEALEX experiments

Numerical modelling of coupled physical processes in bentonite–sand mixtures under the geological conditions is significant for designing and constructing sealing systems in deep underground repositories for highly radioactive nuclear waste. Within the framework of DECOVALEX 2015, Task A, this work presents the model validation of OpenGeoSys by numerical modelling of coupled hydromechanical (HM) processes in bentonite–sand mixtures. Parameters used in the HM model were determined by modelling the laboratory tests of the sealing experiment (SEALEX). Afterwards these parameters were applied for the modelling of a small-scale mock-up test considering the influence of technological gap and incidental fail of the seal in the sealing system. In order to investigate the availability of employing these HM parameters and numerical models directly to field predictions, the modelling results and measured data of an in situ SEALEX experiment were analysed comparatively. The modelling results reproduced well the main features in HM behaviour of the compacted bentonite–sand mixture, which denotes that the adopted HM models and parameters are adequate for describing the HM processes in the sealing system. It is necessary to take the elastoplastic behaviour and evolution of the permeability of bentonite–sand mixtures into account when using the adopted models to reproduce the HM processes of a sealing system.     

Investigation into water retention and gas permeability of Opalinus clay

Opalinus clay (OPA) is currently being investigated as a potential host rock for radioactive waste repository. The construction of this repository will lead to an excavation-damaged zone (EDZ) in the surrounding. Its sealing ability is crucial for the safety assessment of the geological repository. The sealing ability of OPA has a close relationship with its water retention and gas permeability behaviours. For this purpose, the water retention and gas permeability of OPA and its comparison with the artificial barrier (i.e. bentonite) were investigated in this study. The results show that OPA absorbed less water than granular bentonite material with equal suction. Compared with the other two similar materials (Boom clay and COx argillite), which were selected as natural engineering barriers for nuclear waste storage in Belgium and France, the suction behaviours of OPA are similar to those of COx argillite but notably different from those of Boom clay. The gas permeability tests show that OPA sample is quite sensitive to the changes in confining pressures but is less sensitive to applied gas pressures. Further, it is found that the OPA is more permeable than bentonite barrier after 10.5 years of hydration. Then, the OPA samples were artificially water-saturated. We find that the sealing ability can be recovered after long-time water saturation. However, when comparing with bentonite barrier, it is still a weak zone. This indicates that the EDZ should be paid more attention for the assessment the performance of the nuclear repository.     

微生物-膨润土联合矿化防渗模型试验研究

砂土地基发生渗漏时容易引发地基塌陷和工程结构破坏等工程安全问题。利用微生物-膨润土联合矿化的方法开展了大尺寸砂柱的防渗模型试验,研究了砂土的颗粒粒径、浆液的液固比与注浆次数等因素对砂柱的渗透特性、内部侵蚀特性及膨润土与碳酸钙沉淀分布的影响,分析了处理后试样的封堵稳定性和微观结构,进一步评估了微生物-膨润土联合矿化方法的处理效果。结果表明,通过微生物-膨润土联合矿化方法可以有效地提高砂土的防渗效果与封堵稳定性。经过1～3次注浆后,试样的渗透系数最大可以降低4个数量级,并且渗透过程中的侵蚀速率也得到了成倍的降低,最低达到了0.51 g/(s·m2)。针对膨润土与碳酸钙沉淀在砂土封堵中起到的作用,分析了微生物-膨润土联合矿化方法的防渗机制。该研究成果证实了微生物-膨润土联合矿化方法应用于砂土防渗工程的可行性,为微生物注浆技术解决砂土地基渗漏问题提供了重要参考。     

Impact of wetting–drying cycles on the hydraulic conductivity of liners made of lime-stabilized sand–bentonite mixtures for sanitary landfills

In this study, an investigation was performed to determine if lime-stabilized sand–bentonite mixtures are appropriate for the construction of sanitary landfills liners. For this aim, the hydraulic conductivity tests were conducted in the laboratory on sand–bentonite mixtures and lime-stabilized sand–bentonite mixtures to evaluate the effect of wetting–drying cycles. The hydraulic conductivity tests were performed to see if their hydraulic conductivities are affected by wetting–drying cycles. First series of specimens have been prepared as a mixture of sand and bentonite only. In the first series of specimens, sand was mixed with bentonite in proportions of 20, 30, 40, and 50 %. In the second series of the specimens, lime in proportions of 1, 2 and 3 % by weight was added to the mixtures of sand–bentonite in proportions of 20, 30, 40, and 50 %. From the results of the tests, it was observed that while optimum water content increased, maximum dry density decreased with addition of lime to the sand–bentonite mixtures. Generally, the hydraulic conductivity increased with the addition of lime to the mixtures but at low percentages of lime (1–2 %), however, slight decreases in k were recorded. It was also observed that the wetting–drying cycles on the permeability test indicate cure effect on specimens with addition of lime which resulted in decreased the hydraulic conductivity.     

Shear strength behaviour of compacted clayey soils percolated with an alkaline solution

In the French model of deep nuclear wastes repositories, the galleries should be backfilled with excavated argillite after the site has been filled. After thousands of years, the degradation of the concrete lining of the galleries will generate an alkaline solute (pH > 12) that would circulate through the backfill. The goal of this paper is to describe the impact of such solute circulation on the properties of compacted argillite. Since additives (bentonite, sand or lime) are often introduced in the remoulded argillite for the backfill, such mixtures were also studied. Saturated-portlandite water was circulated through compacted samples for 3, 6 and 12 months at 60 °C. The shear strength behaviour of the samples was determined with triaxial tests. The microstructure of the samples was analysed via mercury intrusion porosimetry tests and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the influence of the alkaline fluid on the properties of the argillite is a function of the nature of the additive. In the case of the calcareous sand, no major changes were observed. The pure argillite underwent a slight decrease in its cohesion due to limited dissolution of its clayey particles. Conversely, intense alteration of the bentonite–argillite mixture was observed, and the shear strength behaviour was modified. Lime addition improved the mechanical characteristics of the argillite.     

考虑微观结构的非饱和渗透系数计算公式

分维理论是预测非饱和渗透系数的一种常用方法。在对有侧限条件下高庙子膨润土的非饱和渗透系数的试验结果分析后,发现分维理论并不适用,其缺陷在于不能够反映膨润土这种特殊粘土在水化过程中的微观结构变化。因为膨润土是一种纳米材料,其小孔隙和大孔隙分布在水化过程中都会发生变化,而一般性粘土和砂土没有这种特殊的物理化学特性。结合Kozeny—Carman关于多孔介质的半经验公式,提出了半经验一半理论的考虑微结构的膨润土的非饱和渗透系数计算公式。在对高庙子膨润土的扫描电镜试验和压汞试验资料分析的基础上,定性验证了所提出公式的正确性。     

Hydro-mechanical path dependency of claystone/bentonite mixture samples characterized by different initial dry densities

In the context of the French Cigéo-project, a mixture composed of 70% processed Callovo-Oxfordian claystone spoil and 30% MX80-bentonite could be a potential backfill material, whose installation aims to stabilize the surrounding rock formation and to limit the propagation of the excavation damaged zone. The backfill material must sustain the overburden pressure, despite that it might be exposed to different hydraulic and mechanical paths. The reference concept considers employing conventional compaction techniques, although their employment involves spatial variations in the dry density after compaction. In general, as the initial dry density has a significant impact on the hydro-mechanical behavior of backfill materials, it is of major importance to relate the variations in the initial dry density to differences in the behavior. This experimental laboratory study aimed to analyze how variations in the initial dry density affect the swelling and compression behavior of the claystone/bentonite mixture, in particular in unsaturated state. Further, it evaluated whether those variations affected possible hydro-mechanical path dependences. The experimental program comprised suction-controlled oedometer and constant-volume swelling pressure experiments, in which samples characterized by different initial dry densities were exposed to different hydro-mechanical paths. The analysis of microstructural and water retention characteristics complemented the program. Major results indicated that the magnitude of swelling pressure at a given suction depends considerably on the initial dry density, but it is independent of the imposed hydro-mechanical path. Interestingly, the dependency of the yield behavior on the hydro-mechanical path appears to be more pronounced as the initial dry density increases.

     

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.     

Hydromechanical Behaviour of Rock-Bentonite Interfaces Under Compression

Summary Interfaces between geomaterials may be critical for the long term confinement of the engineered barriers of nuclear waste disposals, particularly if there is water flow. Hydromechanical compression tests have been performed on rock-bentonite interfaces representing the contact between a host rock (toarcian argillite) and an engineered barrier within a nuclear waste repository. The results show that there is no major influence of the bentonite fraction or the nature of the additive as long as the additive is inert (sand or crushed rock): all the interfaces are closed for low values of normal stress (about 4 MPa). On the other hand, the hydromechanical behaviour of the interfaces changes when a high fraction of cement is used. Moreover, it has been shown that bentonite is very sensitive to hydraulic erosion, producing flow channels within the interface zone. A numerical study confirms the importance of erosion for the hydromechanical behaviour of the interface. Authors’ address: Olivier Buzzi, Laboratoire Sols, Solides, Structures, Université Joseph Fourier, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble, Cedex 9, France     

Performance evaluation of soil mixtures treated with graphite and used as barrier fill material for high-level radioactive waste repository

Buffer/backfill material is an important engineering barrier in a deep geological repository of high-level radioactive waste (HLW). Its thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) performance is very important for the safe and stable operation of the HLW repository system. Natural graphite powder mixed with sodium bentonite forms a buffer/backfill material that can dissipate heat quickly and provide strong isolation. In this paper, the THM characteristics of bentonite–sand–graphite–polypropylene fiber (BSGF) mixtures, used as a buffer/backfill material, were studied through a series of laboratory tests. The influence of graphite and polypropylene fiber contents on thermal conductivity, swelling pressure, hydraulic conductivity, and strength properties of BSGF mixtures with different sand contents was analyzed. Experimental results indicated that the graphite content, the maximum graphite mesh number, and the initial dry density of bentonite–graphite mixtures influenced the thermal conductivity of bentonite–graphite mixtures. The addition of polypropylene fiber was found to enhance the shear strength and inhibit cracking without significantly affecting the expansivity, permeability, and thermal conductivity of the BSGF mixtures. This study provides a new buffer/backfill material that can improve the stability, functionality, and thermal efficiency of the HLW repository.

     

Effect of Water and Leachate on Hydraulic Behavior of Compacted Bentonite,Calcareous Sand and Tuff Mixtures for Use as Landfill Liners

Compacted soil–bentonite liners, consisting of a sandy soil mixed with bentonite as backfill, are used extensively as engineered barriers for contaminant containment. This paper studies the valorization of local materials containing calcareous sand, tuff obtained from Laghouat region (in the South Algeria), to associate with bentonite in order to improve their hydraulic characteristics for use as landfill liner material. Firstly, a geotechnical characterization of mixtures chooses from a fixed percentage to 10% bentonite and different percentages of calcareous sand and tuff so that they are complementary to 90% by not 10%. Thereafter, the determination of saturated hydraulic conductivity at falling-head permeability (K_v) and oedometer (K_id, indirect Measure) tests of all compacted mixtures at Optimum Normal Proctor have been carried out using both permeates by tap water and a landfill leachate in order to simulate long-term conditions. The results showed that the saturated hydraulic conductivity of tap water is relatively lower than the one saturated by leachate in the falling-head test, unlike the oedometer test. The B₁₀CS₂₀T₇₀ mixture has satisfied the hydraulic conductivity criterion of bottom barriers (i.e. water permeated: k_v20° = 1.97 × 10^?9 and k_id from 7 × 10^?9 to 1.83 × 10^?10 < 10^?9m/s; leachate permeated: k_v20° = 2.91 × 10^?9 and k_id from 7 × 10^?9 at 1.44 × 10^?10 < 10^?9 m/s). Finally, a comparison between direct measurements of the saturated hydraulic conductivity by triaxial (K_d) test and oedometer test (K_id) in the range of effective stress applied 100–800 kPa led to propose equations of correlations between these two methods. In conclusion, adopted formulation B₁₀CS₂₀T₇₀ perfectly meets the regulatory requirements in force and constitutes an economic product based on available local materials for engineers barriers.     

不同砂−膨润土垂直防渗墙填筑土料的掺量研究

土?膨润土垂直防渗墙在美国已广泛应用于城市卫生填埋场中,我国的工程中则应用较少。由国产膨润土与原地层土混合在自重应力作用下固结形成的防渗墙,其渗透性、孔隙和压缩性如何受膨润土掺量的影响,针对该一问题,使用福建标准砂模拟原地层,以3种典型膨润土作为混合料,在各掺量下对砂?膨润土填筑土料开展改进柔性壁渗透试验固结试验,研究不同膨润土掺量对填筑料渗透系数k、孔隙率n与压缩系数av影响。结果表明,膨润土和砂形成防渗墙时存在一个对应最小n和av的最优掺量Copt,当膨润土掺量小于等于Copt时,随着掺量增加,填筑料k下降很快,av缓慢减小;当掺量大于Copt后,随掺量上升,k降低速度趋缓,av快速地升高。理论上,膨润土掺入较少时黏土颗粒仅填充砂粒间的孔隙而不影响砂粒堆积,掺量达到一定程度后膨润土使砂粒彼此分离,悬浮在其中,填筑料的孔隙率随掺量而增大,可能是宏观上造成最优掺量产生的主要原因。     

含裂缝压实膨润土的渗透性能研究

为评价膨润土裂缝的自愈合效果,通过渗透-饱和试验,研究了不同裂缝形态、数量的压实膨润土试样渗透系数的变化规律,采用统计学方法分析了各组试样渗透系数的差异性.研究显示：在饱和过程中,干密度为1.2 g/cm3的含裂缝压实膨润土的渗透系数随时间呈逐渐递减趋势,且含裂缝试样渗透系数与完整试样渗透系数之间无显著性差异.表明裂缝形态和数量对压实膨润土的渗透性无显著影响,压实膨润土具有良好的自愈性能.     

Effect of sand grain size and boundary condition on the swelling behavior of bentonite–sand mixtures

Deep geological repository is a favorable choice for the long-term disposal of nuclear wastes. Bentonite–sand mixtures have been proposed as the potential engineered barrier materials because of their suitable swelling properties and good ability to seal under hydrated repository conditions. To investigate the effects of sand grain size on the engineering performance of bentonite–sand mixtures, we prepare five types of bentonite–sand mixtures by mixing bentonite with sand of varying particle size ranges (0.075–0.25 mm, 0.25–0.5 mm, 0.5–1 mm, 1–2 mm and 2–5 mm, respectively). We carry out sequential oedometer tests under different simulated repository conditions, including constant vertical stress (CVS), constant stiffness (CS) and constant volume (CV) conditions. The microstructural heterogeneity and anisotropy of these soil mixtures are characterized through the quantitative analysis of micro-CT scanning results. Experimental results reveal that both sand grain size and boundary condition significantly influence the swelling of soil mixtures. Under three conditions, the temporal evolutions of swelling stress and strain follow similar trends that they increase faster at the beginning and gradually stabilize afterward. Comparing the ultimate values, swelling strains follow CVS?>?CS?>?CV, while swelling stresses follow CV?>?CS?>?CVS. Under CS boundary conditions, as the stiffness coefficient increases, the swelling pressure increases and the swelling strain decreases. CT results further indicate that mixtures with larger sand inclusions are more structurally heterogeneous and anisotropic, resulting in increased inter-particle friction and collision and a higher energy dissipation during the swelling process. Moreover, the non-uniform distribution of bentonite in local zones would be intensified, which plays an important role in compromising swelling behavior. Therefore, soil samples mixed with larger sand particles present a smaller swelling stress and strain values. This study may guide the choice of engineered barrier materials toward an improved design and assessment of geological repository facilities.

     

Monitoring Large-Scale Tests for Nuclear Waste Disposal

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.     

Investigation of the hydro-mechanical behaviour of GMZ bentonite pellet mixtures

Bentonite pellet mixtures are considered as one of the candidate sealing materials for deep geological disposals of radioactive waste. One of the particularities of this material is the initial heterogeneous distribution of pellets and porosity within the mixture, leading to complex hydro-mechanical behaviour. In this paper, the hydro-mechanical properties of GMZ bentonite pellet mixtures were investigated in the laboratory by carrying out water retention tests on pellet mixtures under constant-volume condition and single pellets under free swelling condition, as well as a infiltration test on a column specimen of pellet mixture. In the infiltration test, the relative humidity and radial swelling pressure were monitored at five heights, the axial swelling pressure was also recorded. The instantaneous profile method was applied to determine the unsaturated hydraulic conductivities. Results show that, in high suction range (>?10 MPa) the water retention curve of pellet mixture under constant-volume condition was comparable to that of a single pellet under free swelling condition, while in low suction range (<?10 MPa) the latter exhibits a much higher water retention capacity. Due to clogging of large pores, the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity decreases as suction decreases to around 25 MPa. However, with further suction decrease, the hydraulic conductivity increases continuously until the value at saturated state, as in the case of most unsaturated soils. The radial swelling pressure at different heights develops with local sudden increase and decrease, which was attributed to local rearrangement of pellets upon wetting. By contrast, as the axial swelling pressure was measured on the global surface of the specimen, it develops in a more regular fashion.

     

Sedimentation in a fluvially infilling, barrier-bound estuary on a wave-dominated, microtidal coast: the Ouémé River estuary, Benin, west Africa

The Ouémé River estuary is located on the seasonally humid tropical coast of Benin, west Africa. A striking feature of this microtidal estuary is the presence of a large sand barrier bounding a 120 km² circular central basin, Lake Nokoué, that is being infilled by heterogeneous fluvial deposits supplied by a relatively large catchment (50 000 km²). Borehole cores from the lower estuary show basal Pleistocene lowstand alluvial sediments overlain by Holocene transgressive–highstand lagoonal mud and by transgressive to probably early highstand tidal inlet and flood‐tidal delta sand deposited in association with non‐preserved transgressive sand barriers. The change in estuary‐mouth sedimentation from a transgressive barrier‐inlet system to a regressive highstand barrier reflects regional modifications in marine sand supply and in the cross‐barrier tidal flux associated with barrier‐inlet systems. As barrier formation west of the Ouémé River led to an increasingly rectilinear shoreline, the longshore drift cell matured, ensuring voluminous eastward transport of sand from the Volta Delta in Ghana, the major purveyor of sand, to the Ouémé embayment, 200 km east. Concomitantly, the number of tidal inlets, and the tidal flux associated with a hitherto interlinked lagoonal system on this coast, diminished. Complete sealing of Lake Nokoué has produced a large, permanently closed estuary, where tidal intrusion is assured through the interconnected coastal lagoon via an inlet located 60 km east. Since 1885, tides have entered the estuary directly through an artificial outlet cut across the sand barrier. Although precluding the seaward loss of fluvial sediments, permanent estuary‐mouth closure has especially deprived the highstand estuary of marine sand, a potentially important component in estuarine infill on wave‐dominated coasts. In spite of a significant fluvial sediment supply, estuarine infill has been moderate, because of the size of the central basin. Estuarine closure has resulted in two co‐existing highstand sediment suites, with limited admixture, the marine‐derived, estuary‐mouth barrier and upland‐derived back‐barrier sediments. This situation differs from that of mature barrier estuaries characterized by active fluvial‐marine sediment mixing and facies interfingering.     

An advanced hydro-mechanical constitutive model for unsaturated soils with different initial densities

This paper presents an advanced constitutive model for unsaturated soils, using Bishop’s effective stress (σ′) and the effective degree of saturation (S_e) as two fundamental constitutive variables in the proposed constitutive model. A sub-loading surface and a unified hardening parameter (H) are introduced into the σ′–S_e modelling framework to interpret the effects of initial density on coupled hydro-mechanical behaviour of compacted soils. Compared with existing models in the literature, the main advantage of the proposed model that it is capable of modelling hydro-mechanical behaviour of unsaturated soils compacted to different initial densities, such as the dependence of loading–collapse volume on initial void ratio and density effect on the shearing-induced saturation change. The proposed model requires 13 material parameters, all of which can be calibrated through conventional laboratory tests. Numerical studies are conducted to assess the performance of the model for a hypothetical soil under two typical hydro-mechanical loading scenarios. The proposed advanced unsaturated soil model is then validated against a number of experimental results for both isotropic and triaxial conditions reported in the literature.     

无水砂层大断面矩形管廊顶管施工渣土改良试验

大断面矩形管廊在无水砂层中顶进施工时,由于砂土流塑性差,掌子面易出现“闭塞”、“喷涌”和“结饼”等不良现象,进而影响施工进度。本文以北京市通州区畅和西路(兆善大街-潞阳大街)大断面矩形顶管施工为工程依托,开展了掌子面渣土改良试验研究。以不同配比的钠基膨润土、聚丙烯酰胺(PAM)和水作为砂土改良的添加剂,并通过黏度试验和滤失试验对不同配比的改良剂(膨润土添加聚丙烯酰胺)的性能进行了研究,结合改良后渣土的坍落度试验、直剪试验与压缩试验,评价了掌子面渣土的改良效果。研究表明:膨润土添加聚丙烯酰胺对无水砂层的改良效果显著。通过改良剂性能试验,初步筛选出膨润土: PAM: 水为60:2:1000,70:1.5:1000,70:2:1000和80:1.5:1000等4种性能优良的改良剂配比;通过渣土改良效果试验得出,改良剂最优配比膨润土: PAM: 水为70:2:1000,改良剂最优注入比为15%;通过添加改良剂使得改良后渣土的坍落度降低30 mm,黏聚力增加9.3 kPa,内摩擦角降低6.5°,压缩系数增加0.090 MPa-1,达到了无水砂层土体处于流塑性状态的预期效果,有效降低了大断面矩形管廊侧壁阻力,提高了顶进效率。     

Adsorptive removal of azo dyes from aqueous solutions by natural bentonite under static and dynamic flow conditions

This work reports new findings on the physisorption of Foron Blue 291 on natural bentonite under both static and dynamic flow conditions of the aqueous solution that may prove important when using the adsorption technique for wastewater treatment. The quantity of dye retained by the solid matrix under both ideal exchange conditions between dyes and adsorbents given in a batch reactor and a pulse injection of dissolved azo dye in a soil column composed of a mixture of mean grain-sized sand and bentonite at different flow rates and at various mass fractions of bentonite was studied. Column experiments involving the use of a non-reactive tracer (Fluorescein) were performed to examine hydrodynamic behaviours of the clay/sand mixture studied. It is shown that advective–dispersive transport across a clay/sand mixture may be characterized by a double porosity medium. The results obtained on the reactive transport of Foron Blue 291 underscore that Foron Blue 291 adsorption depends heavily on the mass fraction of clay in a clay/sand mixture. With a clay mass fraction of 30 %, 77 % of the dissolved Foron Blue 291 mass was irreversibly removed by the adsorbent. At low flow rates, removal ratios obtained from the dynamic reactive system were similar to those obtained through previous static reactor experiments.