Evaluation of fractures in a rock as flow paths around tunnel using ground penetrating radar

Masumoto, Kazuhiko*; Takeuchi, Ryuji  

Fractures developing around the tunnel during the excavation result in issues related not only to the mechanical stability of the rock cavern, but also to the groundwater flow paths. In order to estimate the possibility of application of the GPR (Ground Penetration Radar) to estimate the fractures as low paths, the authors conducted the GPR survey along the side wall of 500 m access tunnel of the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory of JAEA. The results of the profile measurements indicated that water-conductiong fractures were detected as a reflected waves using GPR survay. Furthermore, as the results of fixed-point measurements during the injection of the saline water, it could be indicated to estimate the flow paths of saline water in the fractures, in a non-destructive way, based on spectral analysis in the reflected waveforms of GPR.