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

Okubo, Seisuke*; Fukui, Katsunori*; Hashiba, Kimihiro*; Hikima, Ryoichi; Tanno, Takeo; Sanada, Hiroyuki; Matsui, Hiroya ; Sato, Toshinori  

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. This report describes the results of the activities in FY2010. In Chapter 1, we provide an overview and the background to this study. In Chapter 2, the results of a long-term creep test on Tage tuff, started in FY1997 are described. In Chapter 3, the relation of loading-rate dependency of strength and stress dependency of creep life, the relationship of time dependency and probability distribution of strength or creep life and size effects are discussed to indicate more clearly the meaning of the value of "n" to express the degree of time dependency of the rock. In Chapter 4, failure criterions of a rock mass considering time dependency are discussed. In Chapter 5, the FEM analysis implemented with a generalized variable-compliance-type constitutive equation considering the change of "n" in confining pressure and strength distribution of rock mass 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.