Hydrogeomechanical investigation of an excavation damaged zone in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory

Aoyagi, Kazuhei  ; Tsusaka, Kimikazu*; Nohara, Shintaro*; Kubota, Kenji*; Tokiwa, Tetsuya*; Kondo, Keiji*; Inagaki, Daisuke*

In a construction of a deep underground facility such as repository for high-level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal, significant changes in hydrogeomechanical properties around a gallery are expected. This zone is called an Excavation Damaged Zone (EDZ). For the safety of HLW disposal, it is necessary to investigate extent and hydrogeomechanical characteristics of an EDZ. In this research, the authors conducted in situ surveys such as seismic refraction survey, geological observation around a gallery, borehole television survey, and hydraulic tests in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory. From the results of those surveys, the authors concluded that the extent of the area with high-density of fractures and high hydraulic conductivity was estimated to be about 0.2 to 1.2 m into the gallery wall. The authors also compiled the information of the extent of an EDZ and hydrogeomechanical properties inside and outside of an EDZ as a conceptual model. Since the conceptual models provide the basic idea for determining flow and solute transport in an EDZ, the result of this research provides a useful data for a safety assessment of the HLW disposal.