Spalling in response to shaft sinking at great depth in soft sedimentary rock

Tsusaka, Kimikazu; Inagaki, Daisuke; Nago, Makito*; Matsubara, Makoto*

Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been constructing an underground research laboratory in order to enhance the reliability of relevant disposal technologies of high-level radioactive waste in Horonobe, Hokkaido. A ventilation shaft (4.5 m in diameter) and two access shafts (6.5 m in diameter) are being excavated through the Neogene sedimentary rocks until the depth of 500 m. Based on the results of borehole investigation and pre-grounting operation in bedrock with high permeability from 250 m to 375 m in depth, the three dimensional fracture distribution map were built and the locations with high possibility of spalling in shaft wall in response to excavation were predicted prior to the shaft sinking from a depth of 250 m. Some amounts of spalling has occurred in several depths during shaft sinking from 250 m to 280 m in depth. The shape of each spalling was measured by means of three dimensional laser scaning system. As a result, spalling in shaft wall occurred along the faults predicted based on the three dimensional fracture distribution. In addition, spalling by brittle failure in shaft wall was also observed with a few extensile fractures which were expected to be induced by excavation. Based on the shape of spalling, it was confirmed that the applied shaft sinking procedure properly prevented a massive spalling.