Water infiltration into a large-scale in-situ experiment in an underground research laboratory

Géotechnique ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. R. Thomas ◽  
P. J. Cleall ◽  
N. Chandler ◽  
D. Dixon ◽  
H. P. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Research Laboratory ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
In Situ Experiment ◽  
Underground Research Laboratory

A Heating Experiment in the Argillites in the Meuse/Haute-Marne Underground Research Laboratory

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yannick Wileveau ◽  
Kun Su ◽  
Mehdi Ghoreychi
Keyword(s):  
Research Laboratory ◽  
Linear Thermal Expansion Coefficient ◽  
Pore Water Pressure ◽  
Water Pressure ◽  
Linear Thermal Expansion ◽  
General Description ◽  
In Situ Experiment ◽  
Heating And Cooling ◽  
Underground Research Laboratory

A heating experiment named TER is being conducted with the objectives to identify the thermal properties, as well as to enhance the knowledge on THM processes in the Callovo-Oxfordian clay at the Meuse/Haute Marne Underground Research Laboratory (France). The in situ experiment has being switched on from early 2006. The heater, 3 m length, is designed to inject the power in the undisturbed zone at 6 m from the gallery wall. A heater packer is inflated in a metallic tubing. During the experiment, numerous sensors are emplaced in the surrounding rock and are experienced to monitor the evolution in temperature, pore-water pressure and deformation. The models and numerical codes applied should be validated by comparing the modeling results with the measurements. In parallel, some lab testing have been achieved in order to compare the results given with two different scales (cm up to meter scale). In this paper, we present a general description of the TER experiment with installation of the heater equipment and the surrounding instrumentation. Details of the in situ measurements of temperature, pore-pressure and strain evolutions are given for the several heating and cooling phases. The thermal conductivity and some predominant parameters in THM processes (as linear thermal expansion coefficient and permeability) will be discussed.

Two large-scale sealing tests conducted at Atomic Energy of Canada's underground research laboratory: the buffer-container experiment and the isothermal test

2002 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 503-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Dixon ◽  
N Chandler ◽  
J Graham ◽  
M N Gray
Keyword(s):  
Water Uptake ◽  
Research Laboratory ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Spent Nuclear Fuel ◽  
Drying Shrinkage ◽  
Large Mass ◽  
Atomic Energy ◽  
Geologic Repository ◽  
Isothermal Test ◽  
Underground Research Laboratory

Two large-scale sealing experiments were conducted at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's Underground Research Laboratory at Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba. The rate of water uptake in densely compacted sand–clay buffer materials proposed for use in a deep geologic repository for spent nuclear fuel was monitored. The buffer–container experiment examined the influence of heat on the performance of a large mass of buffer. Temperatures, water contents, and total and hydraulic pressures within and surrounding the installation were monitored for approximately 2.5 years. Local groundwater pressures increased as a result of rising temperatures. Water uptake and redistribution occurred in the buffer due to drying shrinkage close to the heater and counter-acted swelling due to an increase in water content near the rock–buffer interface. The isothermal test (ITT) allowed natural groundwater uptake from the surrounding rock mass under isothermal conditions. It was monitored for a period of 6.5 years and is the first, and longest running test of its kind yet conducted in the world. During its operation, the ITT (for as yet unconfirmed reasons) experienced a 35% decrease in the rate of water supply relative to that measured prior to experiment installation. This decrease impacts on the time required for saturation to be achieved.Key words: buffer, bentonite, underground research laboratory, instrumentation.

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