Simulation of saturation process in a transuranium disposal facility

TRU廃棄物処分施設の再冠水シミュレーション

高山 裕介  ; 飯塚 敦*; 河井 克之*

Takayama, Yusuke; Iizuka, Atsushi*; Kawai, Katsuyuki*

難透水性と膨潤性を持つベントナイト材料は、TRU廃棄物処分施設の緩衝材としての利用が検討されている。TRU廃棄物処分施設の超長期的な性能を評価するためには、数値解析を用いたベントナイトの力学挙動の予測が必要である。本研究では、ベントナイトの飽和化挙動についての概要とその数理モデルを説明した。次に、その数理モデルを用いていくつかの数値解析を実施した。まず、施設の緩衝材と埋戻し材の膨潤特性を調べるために、膨潤圧試験のシミュレーションを実施した。その後、TRU廃棄物処分施設の再冠水シミュレーションを実施し、緩衝材と埋戻し材の再冠水時の力学挙動を調べた。

Due to its low permeability and excellent expansion characteristics, bentonite materials are considered to be the material of choice for engineered barriers in Trans-Uranium (TRU) disposal facilities. It is necessity to predict the mechanical behaviour of bentonite using numerical simulation to evaluate the long-term performance of a TRU disposal facility. In this paper, a comprehensive summary of the saturation process of bentonite and its mathematical modelling was explained. Subsequently, a series of numerical simulations were carried out. First, a one-dimensional swelling pressure test simulation was carried out in order to examine the swelling characteristics of buffer and backfill. Next, we simulated the saturation process in a TRU disposal facility from an initially unsaturated state. The mechanical behaviour of bentonite buffer and backfill in a TRU disposal facility during the saturation process was examined.