Impact of non-linear elastic behavior on bentonite density evolution at the FEBEX

Takayama, Yusuke  

It is necessary to apply reliable numerical simulation techniques to assess the mechanical behaviour of repositories for the geological disposal of radioactive waste over a long period of time. Having a constitutive model that can describe the mechanical behaviour of bentonite is key to such numerical simulations. In this study, the applicability of linear elastic constitutive model with swelling term is examined focusing on the density heterogeneity by applying to the in situ Full-scale Engineered Barrier Experiment (FEBEX) in Grimsel. It was confirmed that this constitutive model underestimates the density change. Instead, mechanical behaviour was re-simulated by unsaturated elasto-plastic constitutive model using the changes in degree of saturation as input data. Although no feedback effects of mechanical behaviour on hydraulic and thermal behaviour were taken into account, two-dimensional stress and density could be reproduced.