HM and THM interactions in bentonite engineered barriers for nuclear waste disposal

放射性廃棄物地層処分のベントナイト緩衝材におけるTHおよびTHMの相互作用

Gens, A.*; Alcoverro, J.*; Blaheta, R.*; Hasal, M.*; Michalec, Z.*; 高山 裕介  ; Lee, C.*; Lee, J.*; Kim, G. Y.*; Kuo, C.-W.*; Kuo, W.-J.*; Lin, C.-Y.*

Gens, A.*; Alcoverro, J.*; Blaheta, R.*; Hasal, M.*; Michalec, Z.*; Takayama, Yusuke; Lee, C.*; Lee, J.*; Kim, G. Y.*; Kuo, C.-W.*; Kuo, W.-J.*; Lin, C.-Y.*

放射性廃棄物を地層処分した際に、廃棄体やその周囲で起こる熱-水理-力学-化学が連成する現象を表現する連成モデルの開発と確証を目的に、国際共同研究「DECOVALEX 2019 (DEvelopment of COupled models and their VALidation against EXperiments 2019)」が実施された。DECOVALEX-2019の一つのタスクでは、スイスのモン・テリ岩盤研究所およびグリムゼル試験サイトで実施されている原位置試験(それぞれ、EB試験およびFEBEX試験)を対象とした解析課題であり、廃棄体定置後のベントナイト材料からなる緩衝材等の人工バリア及び岩盤を対象に緩衝材が不飽和から飽和に至る状態までの熱-水理-力学連成現象のモデル化に関する検討が行われた。このタスクでは4つのチームが様々なコンピューターコード、構成則を使用して水理-力学および熱-水理-力学の連成解析を実行し、計測データと解析結果の比較が行われた。本論文は、DECOVALEX-2019プロジェクトのこのタスクで得られた成果や課題等について取りまとめた論文である。

Bentonite-based engineered barriers are a key component of many repository designs for the confinement of high-level radioactive waste and spent fuel. Given the complexity and interaction of the phenomena affecting the barrier, coupled hydro-mechanical (HM) and thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) numerical analyses are a potentially useful tool for a better understanding of their behaviour. In this context, a Task (INBEB) was undertaken to study, using numerical analyses, the hydro-mechanical and thermohydro-mechanical Interactions in Bentonite Engineered Barriers within the international cooperative project DECOVALEX 2019. Two large scale tests, largely complementary, were selected for modelling: EB and FEBEX. The EB experiment was carried out under isothermal conditions and artificial hydration and it was dismantled after 10.7 years. The FEBEX test was a temperature-controlled non-isothermal test combined with natural hydration that underwent two dismantling operations, a partial one after 5 years of heating and a final one after a total of 18.4 years of heating. Direct observation of the state of the barriers was possible during the dismantling operations. Four teams performed the HM and THM numerical analyses using a variety of computer codes, formulations and constitutive laws. For each experiment, the basic features of the analyses are described and the comparison between calculations and field observations are presented and discussed. Comparisons involve measurements performed during the performance of the test and data gathered during dismantling. A final evaluation of the performance of the modelling closes the paper.