International comparison of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical models of a multiple-fracture bench mark problem: DECOVALEX phase I, bench mark test 2

Conceptual geological repositories are generally used for disposing spent nuclear wastes containing both high and low level of nuclear radiation and heat. Due to its long-lasting effect, it is imperative to analyze its long-term effect on the surrounding rock. Before analyzing radiation and thermal effect, it is important to have structurally stable cavern because designing an opening in rock is a more difficult problem than designing the structure made of steel. Underground rocks are under stress because of the weight of the overlying rock, and in addition, an underground opening will produce a stress concentration and stress relaxation in the surrounding rock. If the induced stress in the surrounding rock exceeds its strength, the opening will fail either by fracturing or by deforming more than the tolerable limit. In this paper, the stability of four different shapes of excavation has been examined for conceptual geological repositories in Indian context. This has been done using equivalent continuum numerical model which has been incorporated in the commercial finite difference code-FLAC-3D. Effects of opening shapes on stress distribution, subsidence of crown and side wall, and their stability have been analyzed and discussed. The validation of FLAC 3D software for its applicability in conceptual underground geological repositories has been done with a published literature.

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“…The applicability of the code used has been verified by comparing the results with a benchmark problem entitled (Chan et al 1995).…”

Section: Validationmentioning

confidence: 99%

3D instability analysis of an underground geological repository—an Indian case study

et al. 2010

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“…Over the past two decades, nuclear disposal programs around the world have devoted considerable resources to the development of thermo-hydromechanical (T-H-M) modelling (e.g., Booker and (Sillen 2008). Savvidou 1985;Guvanasen 1985;Radhakrishna et al 1992;Chan et al 1995;Thomas et al 1996;Berchenko 1998;Thomas et al 1998;Ledesma and Chen 2003;Thomas et al 2003). Most of these focussed on heat flow, thermally-induced pore water pressure and ground water flow, thermally-induced stresses and displacements and solute transport in fractured rock mass.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study of thermo-hydro-mechanical processes at a potential site of an Indian nuclear waste repository

et al. 2015

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“…Some effort has also been directed at modelling moisture movement in the unsaturated clay backfill. Development of the finite element program Model Of Transport In Fractured/porous Media (MOTIF) by AECL provided notable contributions to these modelling activities [10,11,13,[21][22][23][24][25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of numerical modelling in the design of a full-scale heated Tunnel Sealing Experiment

Guo¹,

Chandler²,

Martino³

et al. 2005

Int. J. Numer. Anal. Meth. Geomech.

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SUMMARYThe Tunnel Sealing Experiment (TSX) was a full-scale in situ demonstration of technology for constructing nearly water tight-seals in excavations through crystalline rock deep below the surface of the earth. The experiment has been carried out at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's (AECL's) Underground Research Laboratory near Lac du Bonnet, Canada, in support of international programs for geologic disposal of radioactive waste. The TSX, with partners from Canada, Japan, France and the United States, was carried under conditions of high pressure (up to 4 MPa) and elevated temperature (up to 858C). Comparing numerical model predictions with eight years of data collected from approximately 900 sensors was an important component of this experiment. Model of Transport In Fractured/porous Media (MOTIF), a finite element computer program developed by AECL for simulating fully coupled or uncoupled fluid flow, solute transport and heat transport, was used to model both the ambient temperature and heated phases of the TSX. The plan to heat the water in the TSX to 858C was developed using model predictions and a comparison of simulated results with measurements during heating of the water in the TSX to about 508C: The three-dimensional MOTIF simulations were conducted in parallel with axisymmetric modelling using Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua (FLAC), which computed the heat loss from pipes that carried the heated water through the rock to and from the experiment. The numerical model was initially used to develop a plan for operation of the experiment heaters, and then subsequently used to predict temperatures and hydraulic heads in the TSX bulkhead seals and surrounding rock.

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International comparison of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical models of a multiple-fracture bench mark problem: DECOVALEX phase I, bench mark test 2

Cited by 23 publications

References 5 publications

3D instability analysis of an underground geological repository—an Indian case study

3D instability analysis of an underground geological repository—an Indian case study

Study of thermo-hydro-mechanical processes at a potential site of an Indian nuclear waste repository

Application of numerical modelling in the design of a full-scale heated Tunnel Sealing Experiment

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