The influence of an excavation damaged zone on the thermal-mechanical and hydro-mechanical behaviors of an underground excavation

In Korea, a reference disposal system, KRS, was proposed in 2006 after 10 years of research and development. In the KRS, the high-level radioactive waste repository is considered to be located in a crystalline rock likes granite. For a validation of the feasibility, safety, and stability of the KRS, an underground research tunnel, KURT was constructed in Nov. 2006. During the construction of KURT by a controlled blasting, the size and characteristics of an excavation damaged zone(EDZ) were investigated by in situ as well as laboratory tests. The possible influences of an EDZ around a tunnel on the thermal, hydraulic and mechanical behaviors of the near field were investigated by using hydro-mechanical and thermo-mechanical coupling analyses. From this study, it was found that the existence of an EDZ can influence the thermal, hydraulic, and mechanical behaviors of the near field and it was recommended that an EDZ should be considered as an important parameter during the design of underground repositories.     

包气带黄土环境研究与放射性废物处置

黄土中的粘粒含量较高、比表面积较大、吸附性较强、阳离子交换容量也较高,这些因素对迟滞放射性核素的迁移有利。而且黄土的非饱和渗透系数K(θ)远远低于它的饱水渗透系数K_(?)。使得放射性核素在黄土中的迁移很慢。因此,包气带黄土作为中、低放射性废物处置库的环境屏障是可行的。     

A method for assessment of excavation damaged zone (EDZ) of a rock mass and its application to a dam foundation case

Excavation of slope is an unloading process, and also an energy releasing process when the stress in the rock mass is unloaded, leading to the rebounding deformation towards the free face. And then a zone, namely excavation damaged zone (EDZ), will be formed near the excavation boundary, where the rock is damaged or disturbed and its physical, mechanical and hydraulic properties are greatly changed. This paper is to put forward a new method to quantify the extent and damage degree of the EDZ according to the unloading strain energy which is released in the process of excavation. A simple relationship between unloading strain ε and accumulative opening displacement T of cracks, , is proposed to describe the damage degree of rock mass in the EDZ, where h is the depth variable in normal direction of the open cracks.This method is used to assess the EDZ of the dam foundation at Xiaowan hydropower station in southwestern China by the accumulative opening displacement curves of cracks along boreholes based on boreholes camera photos. We find that the EDZ can be naturally divided into two sub-zones, i.e. the excavation heavily disturbed sub-zone (EHDZ) and excavation slightly disturbed sub-zone (ESDZ), according to the variation of unloading strain ε. Two inflexions of the accumulative opening displacement curve indicate the lower limits of EHDZ and ESDZ respectively.     

Poromechanical response of borehole in excavation disturbed zone

This paper presents time-dependent response of a cylindrical borehole in a poroelastic medium with an excavation disturbed zone. The general solutions are derived based on Biot’s theory of poroelasticity by employing Laplace and Fourier transforms. Both shear modulus and permeability coefficient are assumed to be changed from their original values in the disturbed zone. The general solutions are employed to formulate boundary value problems corresponding to a borehole subjected to axisymmetric loading applied at its surface, and contact problems of a rigid cylindrical plug in a borehole. Selected numerical results are presented to portray the influence of poroelastic effects and the excavation disturbed zone.     

Modeling of damage,permeability changes and pressure responses during excavation of the TSX tunnel in granitic rock at URL,Canada

This paper presents numerical modeling of excavation-induced damage, permeability changes, and fluid-pressure responses during excavation of a test tunnel associated with the tunnel sealing experiment (TSX) at the Underground Research Laboratory (URL) in Canada. Four different numerical models were applied using a wide range of approaches to model damage and permeability changes in the excavation disturbed zone (EDZ) around the tunnel. Using in situ calibration of model parameters, the modeling could reproduce observed spatial distribution of damage and permeability changes around the tunnel as a combination of disturbance induced by stress redistribution around the tunnel and by the drill-and-blast operation. The modeling showed that stress-induced permeability increase above the tunnel is a result of micro and macrofracturing under high deviatoric (shear) stress, whereas permeability increase alongside the tunnel is a result of opening of existing microfractures under decreased mean stress. The remaining observed fracturing and permeability changes around the periphery of the tunnel were attributed to damage from the drill-and-blast operation. Moreover, a reasonably good agreement was achieved between simulated and observed excavation-induced pressure responses around the TSX tunnel for 1 year following its excavation. The simulations showed that these pressure responses are caused by poroelastic effects as a result of increasing or decreasing mean stress, with corresponding contraction or expansion of the pore volume. The simulation results for pressure evolution were consistent with previous studies, indicating that the observed pressure responses could be captured in a Biot model using a relatively low Biot-Willis’ coefficient, α ≈ 0.2, a porosity of n ≈ 0.007, and a relatively low permeability of k ≈ 2 × 10⁻²² m², which is consistent with the very tight, unfractured granite at the site.     

Comparison of vertical and horizontal deposition hole concept for disposal of radioactive waste based on rock mechanical in situ stress-strength analyses

In Finland, a spent fuel repository is being planned in hard, crystalline rock to the depth of 300–800 m. The repository will consist of parallel deposition tunnels which are interconnected by a central tunnel. The spent fuel canisters will be placed in holes drilled according to the tunnel floor—vertical deposition hole concept or in the tunnel wall-horizontal deposition hole concept. Based on the numerical stress-strength analyses, both concepts are found to be feasible. However, when the maximum horizontal stress is perpendicular to the axis of the deposition hole, the rock in the vicinity of the horizontal deposition hole seems to have more stable behavior than in the case of the vertical deposition hole.     

Advances in geochemical research for the underground disposal of high-level, long-lived radioactive waste in a clay formation

One of the options for the long-term confinement of high-level, long-lived radioactive waste is the disposal in deep geological formations. In France, this option is particularly studied in a 155-Ma-old Jurassic clay formation located in the eastern part of the Paris Basin. Fifteen years of research and the construction of an underground research laboratory have provided a large set of data that allows the feasibility of the geological disposal to be evaluated from a scientific standpoint. Geochemical aspects of this research are of major importance because they provide essential information on both the characteristics of the geological medium and the long-term behaviour of the waste and the engineered system.     

A multiple-code simulation study of the long-term EDZ evolution of geological nuclear waste repositories

This simulation study shows how widely different model approaches can be adapted to model the evolution of the excavation disturbed zone (EDZ) around a heated nuclear waste emplacement drift in fractured rock. The study includes modeling of coupled thermal-hydrological-mechanical (THM) processes, with simplified consideration of chemical coupling in terms of time-dependent strength degradation or subcritical crack growth. The different model approaches applied in this study include boundary element, finite element, finite difference, particle mechanics, and elasto-plastic cellular automata methods. The simulation results indicate that thermally induced differential stresses near the top of the emplacement drift may cause progressive failure and permeability changes during the first 100 years (i.e., after emplacement and drift closure). Moreover, the results indicate that time-dependent mechanical changes may play only a small role during the first 100 years of increasing temperature and thermal stress, whereas such time-dependency is insignificant after peak temperature, because of decreasing thermal stress.     

Study of the initiation and propagation of excavation damaged zones around openings in argillaceous rock

The study of the creation and evolution of the excavation disturbed zone (EDZ) in argillaceous rocks is a major issue for the safety of nuclear wastes underground repositories. In this context, the argillaceous Tournemire site has provided a unique opportunity to study the evolution of the EDZ with time thanks to the existence of three openings of different ages. A thorough characterization of the EDZ has been conducted by different means such as visual observation, analysis of samples extracted from drilled boreholes, EDZ permeability measurements, etc. On the basis of these measurements, a conceptual model of the EDZ initiation and propagation at the Tournemire site has been proposed. In order to validate this model, numerical simulations of increasing complexity have been carried out. In a first attempt, the response of the rock mass to the excavation phase, followed by seasonal cyclic variations of temperature and relative humidity inside the opening, has been simulated by means of a purely mechanical analysis, using a simple elastic material model. The EDZ has been estimated by post-processing the calculated stress states, using a Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion. The results obtained show that no EDZ could be predicted unless adopting a low cohesion value for the rock mass. Moreover, the deferred nature of the EDZ formation in Tournemire could not be reproduced. These limitations have then been suppressed by using a coupled viscoplastic-damaging mechanical model, the parameters of which have been identified from different laboratory experiments. With this model, a time evolution of the EDZ could be predicted, but the EDZ pattern could not match the one observed in situ. Finally, in view of the importance of the hydraulic couplings, unsaturated hydro-mechanical calculations have been carried out to investigate the effect of the numerous seasonal variations cycles and the resulting shrinkage.     

Principles of geomechanical safety assessment for radioactive waste disposal in salt structures

Today, a large amount of knowledge is available concerning various sites of potential high active waste (HAW) repositories in salt media. Domal Zechstein salt formations have been examined at several sites in Germany. Extensive R&D work was initiated in the former Asse Salt Mine in order to explore the suitability of salt for waste isolation by laboratory tests, theoretical studies and in-situ tests with test results forming a technological base for future repository development.

Resulting from the inhomogeneity of salt structures the demanded safety of a permanent repository for radioactive wastes can be demonstrated only by a specific site analysis in which the entire system, “the geological situation, the repository, and the form and amount of the wastes” and their interrelationships are taken into consideration.

The site analysis has three essential tasks: (1) Assessment of the thermomechanical load capacity of the host rock, so that deposition strategies can be determined for the site; (2) Determination of the safe dimensions of the mine (e.g. stability of the caverns and safety of the operations); and (3) Evaluation of the barriers and the long-term safety analysis for the authorization procedure.

The geotechnical stability analysis is a critical part of the safety assessment. Engineering–geological study of the site, laboratory and in situ-experiments, geomechanical modelling, and numerical static calculations comprise such an analysis.

Within a scenario analysis — according to the multi-barrier principle, the geological setting is checked to be able to contribute significantly to the waste isolation over long periods. The assessment of the integrity of the geological barrier can only be performed by making calculations with geomechanical and hydrogeological models. The proper idealization of the host rock in a computational model is the basis of a realistic calculation of stress distribution and excavation damage effects. The determination of water permeability along discontinuities is necessary in order to evaluate the barrier efficiency of each host rock.

In this paper some important processes for the performance assessment are described, namely creep and fracturing, permeability and infiltration, and halokinesis and subrosion.

For the future, the role and contributions of geoscientific and rock mechanics work within the safety assessment issues (e.g. geomechanical safety indicators) must be identified in greater detail, e.g. considerations of geomechanical natural analogy for calibration of constitutive laws.     

不连续面激活与巷道围岩破坏区关系的探讨

岩体的破坏往往是其中不连续面滑移与扩展的结果。在不连续面有效剪应力概念的基础上,提出了巷道临空不连续面激活的观点。分析了圆形断面巷道围岩中临空不连续面的激活深度,认为不连续面的激活深度与其倾角及抗剪强度有关,其中,抗剪强度对激活深度的影响较大,同样倾角的不连续面在巷道不同部位的激活深度也并不相同。采用岩体断裂力学的理论,分析了临空不连续面横向翼形裂纹扩展的模式,认为产生翼形裂纹最大可能的部位就是激活临界点。因此,巷道围岩中最大可能的破坏区深度即为不连续面的激活深度。     

高放废物地质处置系统核素迁移模型研究

高放废物地质处置系统核素迁移研究是高放废物安全处理和处置的重要内容.从整个系统的角度出发,把高放废物地质处置系统核素迁移过程分为三种模式:工程屏障中的释放-扩散模型;地质屏障中的对流-弥散模型和在生物圈中的分区传递模型.在分区传递模型中利用转移系数描述核素在各分区之间的迁移.通过对每种模型核素迁移机理的分析得出概化模型,并给出了相应的数学描述.     

新疆地区选建高放射性核废物处置库的可能性

高放废物选址是一项万年大计工程,需要多个预选场地的综合比较,决策废物处置库的具体选建场地。论述了高放废物处置库选址过程中需要考虑的主要问题,然后针对新疆的自然环境,水资源、花岗岩体和缓冲/回填材料的分布,以及区域地壳稳定性等因素,讨论了在新疆选建高放废物地质处置库的可能性,并提出了选址方法。     

新疆地区选建高放射性核废物处置库的可能性

高放废物选址是一项万年大计工程,需要多个预选场地的综合比较,决策废物处置库的具体选建场地。论述了高放废物处置库选址过程中需要考虑的主要问题,然后针对新疆的自然环境,水资源、花岗岩体和缓冲/回填材料的分布,以及区域地壳稳定性等因素,讨论了在新疆选建高放废物地质处置库的可能性,并提出了选址方法。     

高放废物深地质处置：回顾与展望

文章对我国高放废物地质处置研究的历史进行了回顾,并对未来发展进行了展望。我国的高放废物深地质处置研究开发从1985年开始,迄今为止可初步分为3个阶段：①起步和跟踪研究阶段（1985～1998）;②逐步发展阶段（1999～2005）;③政府规划指导阶段（2006至今）。20多年来,我国在国家法律法规、战略规划、选址、工程屏障、核素迁移研究等方面取得了显著进展。我国已经提出在2020年前建成地下实验室、21世纪中叶建成高放废物处置库的目标。研究开发和处置库工程建设分成3个阶段：试验室研究开发和处置库选址阶段（2006～2020）;地下现场试验阶段（2021-2040）和处置库建设阶段（2041～本世纪中叶）。经过全国筛选对比,已初步选定甘肃北山地区为重点预选区,系统的场址评价工作正在进行。已确定采用膨润土作为处置库的回填材料,并初步确定内蒙古高庙子膨润土为我国高放废物处置库的首选缓冲回填材料。工程设计、核素迁移研究和安全评价也取得了一定进展。1999年起与国际原子能机构开展了3期高放废物地质处置技术合作项目,对提高我国的技术水平起到了积极作用。20多年的研究开发工作为我国在21世纪完成高放废物地质处置任务奠定了基础。     

高放废物地质处置元数据设计与编辑模块开发

在对元数据的含义、作用、组成及对高放领域研究的数据内容和特点分析的基础上,对元数据编辑模块的设计进行了详细描述,并在VS2005平台下应用C#语言进行了模块的实际开发,最终实现了便于进行数据共享的XML格式存储功能。元数据编辑模块的应用将促进我国高放废物地质处置信息化工作的进一步深入。