Evolution of the excavation damaged zone around a modelled disposal pit; Case study at the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory, Japan

人工バリア性能確認試験孔周辺の掘削損傷領域の経時変化に関する研究; 幌延深地層研究センターにおける事例

青柳 和平  ; 宮良 信勝; 石井 英一   ; 中山 雅 ; 木村 駿  

Aoyagi, Kazuhei; Miyara, Nobukatsu; Ishii, Eiichi; Nakayama, Masashi; Kimura, Shun

本研究では、幌延深地層研究センターの人工バリア性能確認試験孔(ピット)を対象として、ピット周辺の掘削損傷領域の発達過程と、ピット中に設置した緩衝材への注水に伴う掘削損傷領域の経時変化を、弾性波トモグラフィ調査結果に基づき論じた。結果として、ピット周辺の弾性波速度はピット掘削後に顕著に低下するが、緩衝材への注水開始後は、徐々に弾性波速度が回復する傾向が見られた。ピット周辺の掘削損傷領域を対象とした透水試験と間隙水圧結果と比較したところ、掘削後の割れ目の発達と不飽和領域の発達が弾性波速度の低下の原因であると推定された。また、ピットへの注水に伴う周辺岩盤の間隙水圧の増大が見られたことから、掘削損傷領域内の飽和度の増加が、弾性波速度の回復の原因の一つであると推定された。

The construction of underground facilities induces fractures in the rock mass around the underground voids due to the resultant stress redistribution. This has particular implications for high-level radioactive waste (HLW) disposal projects, where fracture development creates an excavation damaged zone (EDZ) that increases the hydraulic conductivity of the surrounding rock mass and can provide a pathway for the migration of radionuclides from the storage facilities. It is therefore important to understand the long-term evolution of the EDZ and perform a comprehensive HLW disposal risk assessment. An in situ engineered barrier system experiment was conducted in the 350 m gallery at the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory, Japan, to observe the near-field coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) process in situ and validate coupled THMC models. Here we investigate the evolution of the EDZ around the gallery and model a test pit that was excavated below the floor of the gallery using a series of seismic tomography surveys. There was a significant decrease in the seismic velocity field around the test pit due to its excavation, which became slightly more pronounced over time after the excavation. These seismic results, coupled with hydraulic tests and pore pressure measurements around the pit, indicate that fracture development and the decrease in saturation around the test pit resulted in a decrease in the seismic velocity field after the excavation of the test pit. Furthermore, the increase in saturation around the test pit is a key reason for the increase in the seismic velocity field after the heater test.