Objective The objective of the "VE Experiment" is to evaluate "in situ" the consequences of desaturation in consolidated clay formations. Specifically, the design of the repository, in terms of drifts spacing and repository size, depends on the thermal load that the rock and the engineered clay barrier may accept, which depends directly on their degree of saturation. It is, therefore, vitally important that the desaturation - resaturation times of the rock be assessed, along with their impact on the future resaturation times of the engineered clay barrier, from the point of view of repository design optimisation. Furthermore, desaturation may give rise to cracking on drying, which would increase the area disturbed by excavation of the drifts (EDZ), in terms of a substantial increase in its hydraulic conductivity.The main objectives of the project may be summarised as follows:1. Estimation of desaturation and resaturation times in clay rock, produced by drift ventilation.2. Estimation of the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the rock (macro-scale) and comparison with values obtained at smaller scales: laboratory testing, in-situ hydraulic testing. Evaluation of the scale effect impacting this important parameter.3. Estimation of evolution of the EDZ, in terms of changes in hydraulic conductivity and of displacements caused by the generation of cracks on drying.Expected deliverables:A set of scientific and technical reports including a final report, which should provide information of the "in situ" desaturation - resaturation consequences in consolidated clay formations during the operational and post-closure phases of a repository. The results will improve the scientific basis for the safety assessment of nuclear waste deep geological disposal. Fields of science engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesnuclear engineeringnuclear waste management Programme(s) FP5-EAECTP C - Research and training programme (Euratom) in the field of nuclear energy (1998 to 2002) Topic(s) 2.1.2.-2.1.3 - Repository technology Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator EMPRESA NACIONAL DE RESIDUOS RADIOACTIVOS S.A. EU contribution No data Address Emilio Vargas 7 28043 MADRID Spain See on map Total cost No data Participants (11) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all ASSOCIATION FOR RESEARCH AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES Spain EU contribution No data Address Alenza 1 28003 MADRID See on map Total cost No data COLENCO POWER ENGINEERING LTD Switzerland EU contribution No data Address Mellingerstrasse 207 5405 BADEN See on map Total cost No data DM IBERIA S.A. Spain EU contribution No data Address Pedro Muguruza 8, 2a A 28036 MADRID See on map Total cost No data EEG SIMECSOL S.A. France EU contribution No data Address Rue Troyon 18 92316 SEVRES See on map Total cost No data GESELLSCHAFT FUER ANLAGEN- UND REAKTORSICHERHEIT (GRS) MBH Germany EU contribution No data Address Theodor-Heuss-Strasse 4 38011 BRAUNSCHWEIG See on map Total cost No data INSTITUT DE RADIOPROTECTION ET DE SURETE NUCLEAIRE France EU contribution No data Address Av. du General De Gaule 77/83 92140 CLAMART See on map Total cost No data INSTITUT NATIONAL POLYTECHNIQUE DE LORRAINE France EU contribution No data Address Rue Doyen Marcel Roubault 54501 VANDOEUVRE-LES-NANCY See on map Total cost No data INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING Spain EU contribution No data Address S/N,Gran Capitan s/n, Campus Norte, Edificio C1 08034 BARCELONA See on map Total cost No data NATIONAL COOPERATIVE FOR THE DISPOSAL OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE Switzerland EU contribution No data Address Hardstrasse 73 5430 WETTINGEN See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data SOLEXPERTS AG Switzerland EU contribution No data Address Schulstrasse 6 8603 SCHWERZENBACH See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA Spain EU contribution No data Address S/N,Camino de Vera s/n 46022 VALENCIA See on map Total cost No data
