The mechanical behaviour of weak mudstone (Opalinus Clay) at low stresses

Corkum, A. G.; Martin, C. Derek

doi:10.1016/j.ijrmms.2006.06.004

Cited by 140 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Based on laboratory measurements, Corkum and Martin (2007b) developed an empirical relation for describing the stress dependence of Young's modulus in Opalinus clay. Corkum and Martin (2007a) then performed modeling studies of a mine-by test at the Mont Terri site, Switzerland, and found that a significant portion of the short-term behavior within the damaged zone can be captured using the empirical relation for Opalinus Clay. As a matter of fact, a theoretical relation for such stress dependence is given in Eq (2-11).…”

Section: Stress-strain Relationshipmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling Coupled Processes in Clay Formations for Radioactive Waste Disposal

Liu¹

2010

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Section: Stress-strain Relationshipmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling Coupled Processes in Clay Formations for Radioactive Waste Disposal

Liu¹

2010

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“…The rock laboratory is located within the Opalinus Clay unit which is a Jurassic deposit consisting of a sequence of overconsolidated claystones and marls and has a dip of approximately 451 southeast [14,15]. This clay exhibits at its natural state very favourable conditions for the disposal of radioactive wastes thanks to low and uniform hydraulic conductivity, low diffusion coefficients and good retention capacity for radionuclides [3].…”

Section: Opalinus Claymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the set is oriented sub-parallel with the tunnel axis in the sidewalls and corresponds to open unloading joints while the other is oriented sub-parallel with bedding and corresponds to reactivated bedding planes [17]. However, according to Corkum and Martin [15], as Opalinus clay mineralogy consists mainly of kaolinite and illite, yield is mainly caused by tension. Then, most fractures in the EDZ in indurated clays are directly caused by unloading induced by the short-term excavation (undrained elasto-plastic response) and are of extensional nature [18,19].…”

Section: Opalinus Claymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1a). According to the anisotropic in situ stress field orientation defined by Yong et al [14] and Corkum and Martin [15], the sub-vertical maximum principal stress is s 1 =6.5 MPa, and the sub-horizontal minimal principal stresses are s 2 = 4 MPa (in perpendicular direction of Selfrac borehole) and s 3 =2.2 MPa (in parallel direction of Selfrac borehole). Pore water pressure p w is equal to 2 MPa.…”

Section: Assumptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hydro-mechanical modelling of the excavation damaged zone around an underground excavation at Mont Terri Rock Laboratory

Levasseur

Charlier

Frieg

et al. 2010

International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences

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a b s t r a c tA zone with significant irreversible deformations and significant changes in flow and transport properties is expected to be formed around underground excavations in indurated clay. The stress perturbation around the excavation could lead to a significant increase of the permeability, related to diffuse and/or localised crack propagation in the material. The main objective of this study is to model these processes at large scale in order to assess their impacts on the performance of radioactive waste geological repositories. This paper concerns particularly the hydro-mechanical modelling of a long-term dilatometer experiment performed in Mont Terri Rock Laboratory in Switzerland. The proposed model defines the permeability as a function of the aperture of the cracks that are generated during the excavation. With this model, the permeability tensor becomes anisotropic. Advantages and drawbacks of this approach are described using the results of the Selfrac long-term dilatometer experiment.

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“…Most of the clay is kaolinite and illite. Like most argillaceous rocks, the laboratory-measured properties are transversely isotropic (Corkum and Martin 2007b). Typical of many geomaterials, the response to deformation is generally brittle.…”

Section: Representative Shale Informationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shale disposal of U.S. high-level radioactive waste.

Sassani¹,

Stone²,

Hansen³

et al. 2010

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This report evaluates the feasibility of high-level radioactive waste disposal in shale within the United States. The U.S. has many possible clay/shale/argillite basins with positive attributes for permanent disposal. Similar geologic formations have been extensively studied by international programs with largely positive results, over significant ranges of the most important material characteristics including permeability, rheology, and sorptive potential. This report is enabled by the advanced work of the international community to establish functional and operational requirements for disposal of a range of waste forms in shale media. We develop scoping performance analyses, based on the applicable features, events, and processes identified by international investigators, to support a generic conclusion regarding post-closure safety. Requisite assumptions for these analyses include waste characteristics, disposal concepts, and important properties of the geologic formation. We then apply lessons learned from Sandia experience on the Waste Isolation Pilot Project and the Yucca Mountain Project to develop a disposal strategy should a shale repository be considered as an alternative disposal pathway in the U.S.Disposal of high-level radioactive waste in suitable shale formations is attractive because the material is essentially impermeable and self-sealing, conditions are chemically reducing, and sorption tends to prevent radionuclide transport. Vertically and laterally extensive shale and clay formations exist in multiple locations in the contiguous 48 states. Thermal-hydrologicmechanical calculations indicate that temperatures near emplaced waste packages can be maintained below boiling and will decay to within a few degrees of the ambient temperature within a few decades (or longer depending on the waste form). Construction effects, ventilation, iv and the thermal pulse will lead to clay dehydration and deformation, confined to an excavation disturbed zone within a few meters of the repository, that can be reasonably characterized. Within a few centuries after waste emplacement, overburden pressures will seal fractures, resaturate the dehydrated zones, and provide a repository setting that strongly limits radionuclide movement to diffusive transport. Coupled hydrogeochemical transport calculations indicate maximum extents of radionuclide transport on the order of tens to hundreds of meters, or less, in a million years. Under the conditions modeled, a shale repository could achieve total containment, with no releases to the environment in undisturbed scenarios. The performance analyses described here are based on the assumption that long-term standards for disposal in clay/shale would be identical in the key aspects, to those prescribed for existing repository programs such as Yucca Mountain.This generic repository evaluation for shale is the first developed in the United States. Previous repository considerations have emphasized salt formations and volcanic rock formations. Much of the experience gaine...

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The mechanical behaviour of weak mudstone (Opalinus Clay) at low stresses

Cited by 140 publications

References 17 publications

Modeling Coupled Processes in Clay Formations for Radioactive Waste Disposal

Modeling Coupled Processes in Clay Formations for Radioactive Waste Disposal

Hydro-mechanical modelling of the excavation damaged zone around an underground excavation at Mont Terri Rock Laboratory

Shale disposal of U.S. high-level radioactive waste.

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