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Journal Articles

Modelling heterogeneous hydration behaviour of bentonite by a FracMan-Thames coupling method for the Bentonite Rock Interaction Experiment (BRIE) at $"{A}$sp$"{o}$ HRL

Sawada, Atsushi; Sakamoto, Kazuhiko*; Watahiki, Takanori*; Imai, Hisashi*

SKB P-17-06, 154 Pages, 2023/08

JAEA Reports

Study of natural fracture topography in 50cm scale granodiorite rock block including natural fracture intersection measured by precision grinder

Tetsu, Keiichi*; Takayama, Yusuke; Sawada, Atsushi

JAEA-Research 2022-005, 84 Pages, 2022/08

JAEA-Research-2022-005.pdf:10.32MB
JAEA-Research-2022-005-appendix(CD-ROM).zip:35.68MB

Nuclide migration analyses are conducted for the safety assessment in geological disposal system of HLW. Nuclide migration evaluation of fractured host rock mainly uses a model that approximates the fracture with parallel flat plates. However, the actual fractures in the host rock are different from the parallel flat plates, the fractures have complex characteristics such as roughness of fracture surface and the fillings in the fracture. In approximating a fracture model, the methodology development how to set parameter values such as the transmissivity coefficient and the fracture aperture is an issue. One of the issues is to investigate the geometrical features of actual fractures in the host rock. In this study, for the purpose of understanding the geometrical features of fractures including fracture intersection, the internal fracture shape was measured in detail using the method of surface grinding on 50cm scale granodiorite with natural fracture intersection. Thus, the fracture width, fracture aperture, and the shape of the fracture surfaces were obtained. From the obtain data, characteristics such as the average value of the fracture width, the roughness of the fracture surfaces, and the distribution of the fracture aperture were evaluated. As a result, it was confirmed that one of the fractures near the fracture intersection has a particularly large fracture width and fracture aperture as compared with the other part of fractures. Thus, in the granodiorite rock block used in this study, it was inferred that the most permeable path is not the fracture intersection itself, but the particularly large fracture aperture in the vicinity of the fracture intersection.

Journal Articles

Long-term density-dependent groundwater flow analysis and its effect on nuclide migration for safety assessment of high-level radioactive waste disposal with consideration of interaction between fractures and matrix of rock formation in coastal crystalline groundwater systems

Park, Y.-J.*; Sawada, Atsushi; Ozutsumi, Takenori*; Tanaka, Tatsuya*; Hashimoto, Shuji*; Morita, Yutaka*

Proceedings of 3rd International Conference on Discrete Fracture Network Engineering (DFNE 2022) (Internet), 8 Pages, 2022/00

Safety analysis for underground disposal facilities for high-level radioactive waste requires thorough understanding of long-term groundwater flow and nuclide migration processes in geologic media. In the coastal subsurface systems, groundwater flow is defined by the complex interactions between freshwater of meteoric origin and denser saline water from the sea. In addition, sea levels are expected to fluctuate significantly due to a transgression and regression of the sea over the millions of years for safety analysis. This study presents long-term evolution of groundwater environment such as salinity concentration and flow velocity with focus of the interaction between fractures and matrix blocks in regional and near-field scale analysis framework for groundwater flow and nuclide migration for underground disposal facilities in hypothetical fractured crystalline coastal systems.

Journal Articles

Thermally altered subsurface material of asteroid (162173) Ryugu

Kitazato, Kohei*; Milliken, R. E.*; Iwata, Takahiro*; Abe, Masanao*; Otake, Makiko*; Matsuura, Shuji*; Takagi, Yasuhiko*; Nakamura, Tomoki*; Hiroi, Takahiro*; Matsuoka, Moe*; et al.

Nature Astronomy (Internet), 5(3), p.246 - 250, 2021/03

 Times Cited Count:30 Percentile:96.87(Astronomy & Astrophysics)

Here we report observations of Ryugu's subsurface material by the Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRS3) on the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. Reflectance spectra of excavated material exhibit a hydroxyl (OH) absorption feature that is slightly stronger and peak-shifted compared with that observed for the surface, indicating that space weathering and/or radiative heating have caused subtle spectral changes in the uppermost surface. However, the strength and shape of the OH feature still suggests that the subsurface material experienced heating above 300 $$^{circ}$$C, similar to the surface. In contrast, thermophysical modeling indicates that radiative heating does not increase the temperature above 200 $$^{circ}$$C at the estimated excavation depth of 1 m, even if the semimajor axis is reduced to 0.344 au. This supports the hypothesis that primary thermal alteration occurred due to radiogenic and/or impact heating on Ryugu's parent body.

JAEA Reports

Development of technique for acquiring fracture void structure data for a single fracture and acquisition of hydraulic/mass transport properties in a fracture

Sato, Hisashi*; Sawada, Atsushi; Takayama, Yusuke

JAEA-Research 2020-012, 37 Pages, 2020/11

JAEA-Research-2020-012.pdf:2.66MB
JAEA-Research-2020-012-appendix(DVD-ROM).zip:468.23MB

In the safety assessment of the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste, it is important to fully understand the permeability and mass transport properties of actual fractures when setting parameters for permeability and mass transport properties of fractures. Permeability and mass transport properties of a fracture are affected by the void structure of the fracture. Therefore, it is necessary not only to conduct a hydraulic test but also to evaluate hydraulic properties based on the void structure of the fracture. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a technique to acquire a three-dimensional void structure of a fracture from fracture surface shape data, and to obtain a dataset of three- dimensional void structure data and hydraulic data of the fracture. Specifically, we made a transparent replica sample of fracture and measure the fracture surface shape data in the exact coordinates. The three-dimensional void structure data was constituted from fracture surface shape data in the same coordinates. In addition, we conducted a permeability test and tracer test for the same sample to obtain a permeability and mass transport properties of the fracture. To assess the validity of the acquired data, we compared it with the apertures evaluated based on different methods. As a result, the average aperture from the fracture void structure was almost same as the average aperture acquired by different methods, from the above that the test result was validated.

Journal Articles

Conceptual uncertainties in modelling the interaction between engineered and natural barriers of nuclear waste repositories in crystalline rocks

Finsterle, S.*; Lanyon, B.*; ${AA}$kesson, M.*; Baxter, S.*; Bergstr$"o$m, M.*; Bockg${aa}$rd, N.*; Dershowitz, W.*; Dessirier, B.*; Frampton, A.*; Fransson, ${AA}$.*; et al.

Geological Society, London, Special Publications, No.482, p.261 - 283, 2019/00

 Times Cited Count:8 Percentile:67.25

Nuclear waste disposal in geological formations relies on a multi-barrier concept that includes engineered components which in many cases includes a bentonite buffer surrounding waste packages and the host rock. An SKB's (Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co.) Modelling Task Force project facilitated to improve the overall understanding of rock - bentonite interactions, as 11 teams used different conceptualisations and modelling tools to analyse the in-situ experiment at the $"A$ps$"o$ Hard Rock Laboratory. The exercise helped identify conceptual uncertainties that led to different assessments of the relative importance of the engineered and natural barrier subsystems and of aspects that need to be better understood to arrive at reliable predictions of bentonite wetting.

JAEA Reports

An Influence of the conceptualization between host rock and buffer on nuclide migration in host rock

Sawada, Atsushi; Sakamoto, Kazuhiko

JAEA-Research 2015-020, 21 Pages, 2016/02

JAEA-Research-2015-020.pdf:4.97MB

An influence of the conceptual model for interface between host rock and buffer upon performance measures defined as the indices for evaluating repository safety was examined, as a part of the safety assessment methodology development programs for high level radioactive waste disposal. Three dimensional discrete fracture network model was made based on the parameters used in H12 report, and a line object mimicking disposal tunnel was realized at the center of the model. The groundwater travel time distribution along the migration paths from the line object to the downstream boundary was calculated by the particle tracking analysis. The variation of the groundwater travel time affected by the length of the line object was analyzed, changing from 100m used in H12 report to 50m, 10m, 5m, 3m and 1m, respectively. The influence on the retardation of nuclide migration was also studied. The case study for migration of Cs-135 shows that the shorter line object leads lower nuclide migration rate. Moreover, the nuclide migration rate could be decreased by taking additional measure, that waste package would not be allocated at relatively high permeable location detected by high spatial resolution (1m $$sim$$ 10m) hydraulic tests at the pilot boreholes.

Journal Articles

Task 7 groundwater flow and transport modelling of fracture system at regional, block, and single-fracture scale flow and transport, Olkiluoto

Sawada, Atsushi; Saegusa, Hiromitsu; Takeuchi, Shinji*; Sakamoto, Kazuhiko*; Dershowitz, W. S.*

SKB P-13-46, 82 Pages, 2015/12

Journal Articles

Segmentation of granite and single fracture through microfocus X-ray CT and its application

Ishikawa, Tomohiro*; Yasuhara, Hideaki*; Sawada, Atsushi; Kishida, Kiyoshi*

Dai-50-Kai Jiban Kogaku Kenkyu Happyokai Rombunshu, p.515 - 516, 2015/06

no abstracts in English

Journal Articles

Measurements of fracture aperture in granite core using microfocus X-ray CT and fluid flow simulation

Kishida, Kiyoshi*; Ishikawa, Tomohiro*; Higo, Yosuke*; Sawada, Atsushi; Yasuhara, Hideaki*

Proceedings of 49th US Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium (CD-ROM), 6 Pages, 2015/06

In order to estimate the changes in fracture aperture under various long-term confining and thermal conditions, measurements of the fracture aperture are conducted using microfocus X-ray CT. Through the imaging data, the altitude of the fracture surface and the contact points are evaluated, and contact ratios for the fracture, the JRC and the aperture distribution are estimated. On the other hand, measurements are also conducted using a laser scan profile sensor, and some parameters are estimated. In comparing these parameters, the validity of the X-ray CT data and an analysis of the data will be discussed. In addition, a fracture flow simulation will be conducted using the altitude and aperture data obtained by the microfocus X-ray CT.

JAEA Reports

Enhancement of the methodology of repository design and post-closure performance assessment for preliminary investigation stage, 3; Progress report on NUMO-JAEA collaborative research in FY2013 (Joint research)

Shibata, Masahiro; Sawada, Atsushi; Tachi, Yukio; Makino, Hitoshi; Wakasugi, Keiichiro; Mitsui, Seiichiro; Kitamura, Akira; Yoshikawa, Hideki; Oda, Chie; Ishidera, Takamitsu; et al.

JAEA-Research 2014-030, 457 Pages, 2015/03

JAEA-Research-2014-030.pdf:199.23MB

JAEA and NUMO have conducted a collaborative research work which is designed to enhance the methodology of repository design and post-closure performance assessment in preliminary investigation stage. With regard to (1) study on rock suitability in terms of hydrology, based on some examples of developing method of hydro-geological structure model, acquired knowledge are arranged using the tree diagram, and model uncertainty and its influence on the evaluation items were discussed. With regard to (2) study on scenario development, the developed approach for "defining conditions" has been reevaluated and improved from practical viewpoints. In addition, the uncertainty evaluation for the effect of use of cementitious material, as well as glass dissolution model, was conducted with analytical evaluation. With regard to (3) study on setting radionuclide migration parameters, based on survey of precedent procedures, multiple-approach for distribution coefficient of rocks was established, and the adequacy of the approach was confirmed though its application to sedimentary rock and granitic rock. Besides, an approach for solubility setting was developed including the procedure of selection of solubility limiting solid phase. The adequacy of the approach was confirmed though its application to key radionuclides.

Journal Articles

Discrete fracture network modeling based on in-situ data at underground gallery, 1

Ishibashi, Masayuki; Onoe, Hironori; Sawada, Atsushi; Atsumi, Hiroyuki*; Masumoto, Kazuhiko*; Hosoya, Shinichi*

Dai-42-Kai Gamban Rikigaku Ni Kansuru Shimpojiumu Koenshu (CD-ROM), p.101 - 106, 2014/01

Japan Atomic Energy Agency is proceeding with the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project in order to establish comprehensive techniques for the investigation, analysis and assessment of the deep geological environment in fractured crystalline rock for geological disposal of high level radioactive wastes. We have carried out discrete fracture network modeling, groundwater flow and particle tracking simulation in order to understand the important factors for the solute transport characterizations. In this paper, a method of discrete fracture network modeling based on in-situ data at underground gallery and the influences of different data interpretation are described.

Journal Articles

Discrete fracture network modeling based on in-situ data at underground gallery, 2

Nakajima, Makoto*; Seno, Shoji*; Onoe, Hironori; Ishibashi, Masayuki; Saegusa, Hiromitsu; Sawada, Atsushi

Dai-42-Kai Gamban Rikigaku Ni Kansuru Shimpojiumu Koenshu (CD-ROM), p.107 - 112, 2014/01

Japan Atomic Energy Agency is proceeding with the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project in order to establish comprehensive techniques for the investigation, analysis and assessment of the deep geological environment in fractured crystalline rock for geological disposal of high level radioactive wastes. We have carried out discrete fracture network modeling, groundwater flow and particle tracking simulation in order to understand the important factors for the solute transport characterizations. In this paper, a method for estimating hydraulic parameter of discrete fracture network model based on in-situ data at underground gallery are described.

JAEA Reports

Enhancement of the methodology of repository design and post-closure performance assessment for preliminary investigation stage, 2; Progress report on NUMO-JAEA collaborative research in FY2012 (Joint research)

Shibata, Masahiro; Sawada, Atsushi; Tachi, Yukio; Hayano, Akira; Makino, Hitoshi; Wakasugi, Keiichiro; Mitsui, Seiichiro; Oda, Chie; Kitamura, Akira; Osawa, Hideaki; et al.

JAEA-Research 2013-037, 455 Pages, 2013/12

JAEA-Research-2013-037.pdf:42.0MB

Following FY2011, JAEA and NUMO have conducted a collaborative research work which is designed to enhance the methodology of repository design and performance assessment in preliminary investigation stage. With regard to (1) study on rock suitability in terms of hydrology, the tree diagram of methodology of groundwater travel time has been extended for crystalline rock, in addition, tree diagram for sedimentary rock newly has been organized. With regard to (2) study on scenario development, the existing approach has been improved in terms of a practical task, and applied and tested for near field focusing on the buffer. In addition, the uncertainty of some important processes and its impact on safety functions are discussed though analysis. With regard to (3) study on setting radionuclide migration parameters, the approaches for parameter setting have been developed for sorption for rocks and solubility, and applied and tested through parameter setting exercises for key radionuclides.

Journal Articles

Location and size of nanoscale free-volume holes in crosslinked-polytetrafluoroethylene-based graft-type polymer electrolyte membranes determined by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy

Sawada, Shinichi; Yabuuchi, Atsushi*; Maekawa, Masaki; Kawasuso, Atsuo; Maekawa, Yasunari

Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 87, p.46 - 52, 2013/06

 Times Cited Count:7 Percentile:49.41(Chemistry, Physical)

The location and size of nanoscale free-volume holes (nanoholes) in graft-type polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs), which were prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization (grafting) of styrene into crosslinked-polytetrafluoroethylene (cPTFE) films and subsequent sulfonation, was investigated using positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) spectroscopy. The PAL spectra of the PEMs indicated the existence of two types of ortho-positronium (o-Ps) species, corresponding to nanoholes with volumes of 0.11 and 0.38 nm$$^{3}$$, respectively. Comparison of the PAL data of the PEMs with that of the precursor original cPTFE and polystyrene-grafted films demonstrated the probability that the smaller holes were located in both the PTFE crystalline phases and the poly(styrene sulfonic acid) graft regions, whereas the larger holes are potentially localized in the PTFE amorphous phases.

JAEA Reports

Method development to evaluate retardation effects of nuclide migration in the near-field host rock

Hayano, Akira; Sawada, Atsushi

JAEA-Research 2012-038, 32 Pages, 2013/02

JAEA-Research-2012-038.pdf:3.66MB

The purpose of this study is to contribute to methodology development for evaluating retardation effects of nuclide transport in near-field host rock to flexibly respond to the uncertainty of SDMs. Initially, the methodology for evaluating retardation effects of nuclide transport quantitatively in near-field host rock was developed. Then, the nuclide transport analysis using the data obtained at the surface-based investigation phase of Mizunami underground laboratory project was carried out in order to show the example of application for the methodology. Finally, the impact on results of evaluation caused by the uncertainty of SDMs was considered, and feedback to the investigation of geological environment was given from the result of the analysis of this study.

Journal Articles

Estimation of fracture flow in considering the inhomogeneous structure of single rock fractures

Kishida, Kiyoshi*; Sawada, Atsushi; Yasuhara, Hideaki*; Hosoda, Takashi*

Soils and Foundations, 53(1), p.105 - 116, 2013/02

 Times Cited Count:21 Percentile:62.5(Engineering, Geological)

Considering the safe, long-term sequestration of energy byproducts, such as radioactive waste, one of the important parameters is the groundwater flow velocity through the void of rock masses and/or fractures. In this research work, two-dimensional seepage flow analyses, using the authors' proposed 2D model, with considering the inertia term, are carried out for single fracture permeability tests under conditions which allow for the application of the cubic law. In comparing the results of the experiments with the numerical simulations, the results of the simulation show a good agreement with the experimental results. From these simulation results, the fracture flow of an inhomogeneous structure is discussed, along with the local Reynolds number, and the resistance through the fracture geometry is considered. Consequently, under the condition of a mean Reynolds number of less than 1.0, the inertia terms cannot affect on the fracture flow, but the hydraulic resistance can affect.

Journal Articles

Simultaneous measurements of a single fracture surface morphology and aperture distribution by an optical method

Sato, Hisashi; Sawada, Atsushi

Dai-13-Kai Iwa No Rikigaku Kokunai Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu (CD-ROM), p.501 - 506, 2013/01

The authors have developed the fracture surface geometry measurement method applied by the optical measurement system of a transparent fracture replica specimen, under the same conditions as hydraulic test. Fracture surface geometry measured by the optical method shows closer shape by an alternative method, laser displacement meter. This method require to be improved, because noisy error at local points and at the edge of the specimen was found. The fracture surface geometry data is useful to correlate transmissivity estimated from aperture data based on local cubic law. The transmissivity is successfully correlated by taking account for effects of fracture slope onto transmissivity and length along flow paths.

Journal Articles

Study on connectivity of water-conducting features from the spatial changes of transmissivity based on the hydraulic packer testing data

Takeuchi, Shinji*; Sawada, Atsushi; Takeuchi, Ryuji; Daimaru, Shuji*; Toya, Naruhisa*

Dai-13-Kai Iwa No Rikigaku Kokunai Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu (CD-ROM), p.143 - 148, 2013/01

Transformation of transmissivity from derivative of pressure traisnet data obtained from hydraulic packer testing has applied to the testing data from fractured rock of Mizunami site Japan and Onkalo site Finland. The results show hydrogeological conceptual model for the tested area such as connectivity and continuity of the water-conducting features could be established by the proposed methodology. This method would provide useful information to the hydrogeologial and transport modeling and simulation.

JAEA Reports

Enhancement of the methodology of repository design and post-closure performance assessment for preliminary investigation stage; Progress report on NUMO-JAEA collaborative research in FY2011 (Joint research)

Shibata, Masahiro; Sawada, Atsushi; Tachi, Yukio; Makino, Hitoshi; Hayano, Akira; Mitsui, Seiichiro; Taniguchi, Naoki; Oda, Chie; Kitamura, Akira; Osawa, Hideaki; et al.

JAEA-Research 2012-032, 298 Pages, 2012/09

JAEA-Research-2012-032.pdf:33.68MB

JAEA and NUMO have conducted a collaborative research work which is designed to enhance the methodology of repository design and performance assessment in preliminary investigation phase. The topics and the conducted research are follows; (1) Study on selection of host rock: in terms of hydraulic properties, items for assessing rock property, and assessment methodology of groundwater travel time has been organized with interaction from site investigation. (2) Study on development of scenario: the existing approach has been embodied, in addition, the phenomenological understanding regarding dissolution of and nuclide release from vitrified waste, corrosion of the overpack, long-term performance of the buffer are summarized. (3) Study on setting nuclide migration parameters: the approach for parameter setting has been improved for sorption and diffusion coefficient of buffer/rock, and applied and tested for parameter setting of key radionuclides. (4) Study on ensuring quality of knowledge: framework for ensuring quality of knowledge has been studied and examined aimed at the likely disposal facility condition.

135 (Records 1-20 displayed on this page)