Phenomenological study on crystalline rock for evaluating of long-term behavior (Contract research)

Okubo, Seisuke*; Hikima, Ryoichi; Hirano, Toru*; Matsui, Hiroya 

Rock shows time-dependent behavior such as creep/relaxation. With respect to high-level radioactive waste disposal, knowledge of the long-term mechanical stability of shafts and galleries excavated in rock are required, not only during construction and operation but also over a period of thousands of years after closure. Therefore, it is very important to understand the time-dependent behavior of rock for evaluating long-term mechanical stability. The purpose of this study is determining the mechanisms of time-dependent behavior of rock by the precise test, observation and measurement, to develop methods for evaluating long-term mechanical stability. In previous work, testing techniques have been established and basic evaluation methods were developed. Recently, some parameters needed for simulation of time-dependent behavior were determined at the Mizunami underground research facilities. However, we did not have enough data to check on the reliability of the evaluation method for these parameters. This report describes the results of the activities in fiscal year 2009. In Chapter 1, we provide an overview and the background to this study. In Chapter 2, the results of the long-term creep test on Tage tuff, started in fiscal year, 1997 are described. In Chapter 3, methods for obtaining parameters of the constitutive equation for rock are reviewed and summarized. The time dependent behavior of Toki granite and Inada granite (40-80 C) are also summarized based on data obtained prior to the previous fiscal year. In Chapter 4, the FEM analysis implemented with a generalized variable-compliance-type constitutive equation carried out to clarify the long-term behavior of Toki granite is described. Finally, based on the numerical analysis, an in situ testing method is proposed.