Excavation damaged zone around a simulated disposal pit for high level radioactive waste disposal excavated in soft sedimentary rock

Aoyagi, Kazuhei; Ozaki, Yusuke; Ono, Hirokazu; Ishii, Eiichi

Dai-16-Kai Iwa No Rikigaku Kokunai Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu (Internet), p.269 - 274, 2025/01

We investigated the development of the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) induced by the excavation of modeled disposal pit which was excavated as a part of the full-scale engineering barrier experiment at 350 m depth. Seismic and electric tomography surveys, observation of rock core samples, borehole televiewer surveys and three-dimensional excavation analysis were performed to evaluate the extent of the EDZ around the pit. It was clarified that the EDZ was developed 0.8 to 1.6 m from the wall of the pit at a relatively shallower depth caused by the effect of the EDZ induced around the floor of the gallery. The extent of the EDZ was gradually reduced along the depth, and the maximum extension was 0.3 m from the wall of the pit at the deeper section.

Estimation of stress state using measured tunnel convergence in loop galleries excavated in mudstone

Aoyagi, Kazuhei; Sugawara, Kentaro*; Kamemura, Katsumi*; Nago, Makito*

International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 178, p.105776_1 - 105776_11, 2024/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2024.105776

A method for estimating the stress state during the construction of underground facilities such as deep geological disposal repositories is necessary to enhance the reliability of their design, construction, and long-term performance. For this purpose, numerous in situ measurements of variables such as hydraulic fracturing or the stress relief method have been typically performed to estimate the stress state. However, it is difficult in some cases to validate the stress state, particularly in sedimentary rock, because of the variation related to heterogeneous rock masses and topography. This study developed a new method for reliably estimating the in situ stress state of rocks using the measured initial elastic displacement of the loop gallery at 350 m depth in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory (URL), Japan. The estimated magnitudes of the maximum and minimum horizontal stresses are 11.25 and 6.25 MPa, respectively, which are similar to the stresses measured using the hydraulic fracturing method performed before excavating the facility. Although the proposed method could only be applied after excavation of the gallery in the studied case, it yielded an estimate of the stress state over a region of hundreds of square meters with high accuracy, as assessed by comparison with measured results. We conclude that the method can be applied to optimizing the design, construction, and performance of large underground facilities, such as deep geological repositories.

Evaluation of temporal changes in fracture transmissivity in an excavation damaged zone after backfilling a gallery excavated in mudstone

Aoyagi, Kazuhei; Ishii, Eiichi

Environmental Earth Sciences, 83(3), p.98_1 - 98_15, 2024/02

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-023-11416-x

The long-term geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste relies on predictions of future changes in a disposal facility's hydro-mechanical characteristics to assess potential leakage through fractures in the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) after backfilling the facility. This study evaluated the transmissivity of EDZ fractures using in situ hydraulic tests around the area of a full-scale, experimental, engineered barrier system in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory, Hokkaido, Japan. After their installation, the buffer blocks swelled, altering the stresses within the EDZ fractures. The effects of these changing stresses on the fractures' transmissivity were assessed over a period of 4 years. The transmissivity continuously decreased in this period to about 41% of its value measured prior to the swelling. Using the Barton-Bandis normal-stress-dependent fracture-closure model, the decrease in transmissivity is quantitatively attributed to closure of the EDZ fractures, which was caused by the swelling pressure increasing up to 0.88 MPa. Evidence of fracture closure came from seismic tomography surveying, which revealed a slight increase in seismic velocity in the study area with increasing swelling pressure. The results show that EDZ fractures were closed by swelling of the full-scale buffer material. They also demonstrate the applicability of the Barton-Bandis model to preliminary estimation of the long-term transmissivity of EDZ fractures in facilities for the geological disposal of radioactive waste.

Efforts to Risk Communication at Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory

Osawa, Hideaki; Matsui, Hideki

Genshiryoku Bakkuendo Kenkyu (CD-ROM), 28(2), p.18 - 25, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.3327/jnuce.28.2_18

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency had offered visitor's tour to the underground and surface facilities of the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (URL) at the Tono Geoscience Center in order to promote the understanding of the R&D of geological disposal technology and geological disposal for the public. We analyzed questionnaires distributed after visiting these facilities from FY2010 to FY2019, except for FY2016, in the hopes of using risk communication for geological disposal. Results suggest that visiting these facilities is a valuable experience to understand geological disposal because some people, knew even just a little bit about it, have positively evaluated appropriateness of geological disposal by a tour of the Mizunami URL. While some people who have negatively evaluated safety of geological disposal are highly interested in issues of nuclear power and site selection, some people who have positively evaluated safety of geological disposal are highly interested in public understanding of geological disposal. Furthermore, both these groups believe that long-term safety is a technical issue.

Commissioned research on geological disposal performed by JAEA Safety Research Center

Sawaguchi, Takuma

"Yugai Haikibutsu, Hoshasei Haikibutsu Eno Semento, Konkurito Gijutsu No Tekiyo Kenkyu Iinkai" Hokokusho (CD-ROM), p.165 - 173, 2020/12

no abstracts in English

Risk communication at Horonobe Underground Research Center, using the Public Information House and Underground Research Laboratory

Osawa, Hideaki; Nogami, Toshinobu; Hoshino, Masato; Tokunaga, Hiroaki*; Horikoshi, Hidehiko*

Genshiryoku Bakkuendo Kenkyu (CD-ROM), 26(1), p.45 - 55, 2019/06

https://nuce.aesj.or.jp/jnuce/vol26/Jnuce-Vol26-1-p45-55.pdf

Japan Atomic Energy Agency has performed risk communication at Horonobe Underground Research Center, using the Public Information House and Underground Research Laboratory (URL), to promote understanding R&D of geological disposal technology and waste disposal against public. In this paper, we conducted the analysis of questionnaire investigation performing after visiting those facilities from FY2013 to FY2017. The results show that long-term safety would gain prominent attention as agita factor by growing understanding. The results also shows that visiting to those facility would become valuable experience to understand geological disposal because, for example, respondents with visiting to URL positively evaluated necessity, appropriates and safety of geological disposal, compared with those without visiting URL.

Decision-making process on selection of management policy for high-level radioactive waste; As an example of Switzerland and United Kingdom

Osawa, Hideaki; Hirose, Yukio*; Onuma, Susumu*; Otomo, Shoji*

Shakai Anzengaku Kenkyu, 9, p.145 - 160, 2019/03

https://www.kansai-u.ac.jp/Fc_ss/center/study/bulletin_009.html

We compared decision-making process on selection of management policy for high-level radioactive waste between Switzerland and UK by document review. The decision-making was performed extraction of options, establishment of comparative criteria, assessment and selection of options in turn. As comparative criteria, safety and intergenerational fairness etc. were considered to be important. The position of 'Deal with it now by waste disposal' emphasizing the responsibility of the present generation had a trade-off relation with that of 'Leave it until later by long-term storage' emphasizing the rights of future generations. The sense of values, recusing HLW repository as so-called troublesome facility against future and present generation, appeared to be mitigated through the consideration of trade-off relation described above. As a result, both countries have chosen waste disposal considering reversibility of decisions and retrievability of radioactive waste.

Can the decision way by the "veil of ignorance" promote public acceptance?; A Hypothetical scenario survey about selecting a candidate site for geological disposal of high level radioactive waste in Japan

Onuma, Susumu*; Hirose, Yukio*; Osawa, Hideaki; Otomo, Shoji*; Yokoyama, Miki*

Nihon Risuku Kenkyu Gakkai Dai-31-Kai Nenji Taikai Koen Rombunshu (USB Flash Drive), 6 Pages, 2018/11

One reason of not being decided a candidate site for geological disposal of high level radioactive waste is that strong opposition occurs once a name of the place where residents live even if they can understand the necessity of the facility. Therefore, we hypothesized that people would accept the decision if they consent the decision way beforehand under the condition everyone can be involved in as a potential interest party (the ignorance of veil). A hypothetical scenario survey was conducted in Japan. The results revealed that the decision way and the decision under the ignorance of veil were likely to be accepted more than the current decision way even if they became candidate site. Moreover, the decision way under the ignorance of veil was evaluated higher procedural fairness, while the current way was low procedural fairness.

Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project; Investigation program for the 2018 fiscal year

Hanamuro, Takahiro

JAEA-Review 2018-011, 20 Pages, 2018/08

JAEA-Review-2018-011.pdf:2.77MB

As part of the research and development program on geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW), the Horonobe Underground Research Center, a division of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), is implementing the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project (Horonobe URL Project) with the aim at investigating sedimentary rock formations. According to the research plan described in the 3rd Mid- and Long-term Plan of JAEA, according to the Horonobe URL Project, "Near-field performance study", "Demonstration of repository design option", and "Verification of crustal-movement buffering capacity of sedimentary rocks" are the top priority issues, and schedule for finishing the project and backfill plan will be decides by the end of 2019 Fiscal Year. The Horonobe URL Project is planned to extend over a period of about 20 years. This report summarizes the investigation program for the 2018 fiscal year (2018/2019).

Vitrification technology for radioactive wastes

Amamoto, Ippei

Journal of the Society of Inorganic Materials, Japan, 24(391), p.393 - 401, 2017/11

Glass is a non-crystalline solid, as such, it is relatively easy to change its composition to control its characteristics. The borosilicate glass, which is produced by the addition of boron oxide into sodium-lime glass, possesses excellent heat-resistant properties and mechanical strength. It has a wide variety of uses. The borosilicate glass is applied as the vitrified medium for radioactive wastes to immobilize and stabilize them for long term. The glass form which is loaded with high-level radioactive waste is called the vitrified waste. This paper classified the radioactive waste and describes treatment and production methods of vitrified waste, its characteristics, disposal method and also introduces alternative vitrified medium.