Evaluation of excavation damaged zones (EDZs) in Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory (URL)

Hata, Koji*; Niunoya, Sumio*; Aoyagi, Kazuhei  

Japan Atomic Energy Agency has been conducting R&D activities to enhance the reliability of high-level radioactive waste deep geological disposal technology. In this project, one of the challenges is the development of methods for long-term monitoring of rock mass behavior. Therefore, in January 2014, the long-term measurements of the hydro-mechanical behavior of the rock mass were launched using the three types of optical sensors in the vicinity of the shaft excavated deeper than 350 m at the Horonobe Underground Research Center. The measurement results show that Acoustic emission occur frequently up to 1.5 m from the wall during excavation. In addition, hydraulic conductivity increased by 2-4 orders of magnitude. Elastoplastic analysis revealed that the hydraulic behavior of the rock mass affected the pore pressure fluctuations and caused micro-fractures. Based on this, a conceptual model is developed to represent the excavation damaged zone, which contributes to the safe geological disposal of radioactive waste.