Objective
The aim of CACTUS (Characterization of Clay under Thermal Loading for Underground Storage) project is to study the near field thermo-hydro-mechanical couplings in deep clay around a waste emplacement borehole, under thermal loading. This is of major importance for predicting the behaviour of radioactive waste storage, particularly as regards to the irreversible phenomena due to the effect of heating on stresses and pore pressure. The experiment includes two tests conducted in separate boreholes at Mol underground facility, with identical heating probes but different types of thermal loadings and backfilling materials.
The aim of CACTUS project is to study near field thermohydromechanical couplings in deep clay around a borehole waste emplacement, under thermal loading. This is of major importance for predicting the behaviour of radioactive waste storage, particularly with regards to the irreversible phenomena due to the effect of heating on stresses and pore pressure. The experiment is planned to include a number of tests conducted in seperate boreholes at Mol underground facilities, with identical heating probes but different types of thermal loadings and backfilling materials.
The behaviour of the clay under isothermal conditions has been characterized. During the digging of the borehole hydromechanical expansion of the clay was observed, indicated by a drop in pore pressure.
Measurements of water contents and dry specific densities indicate an initial phase in which the clay expands followed by progressive collapse which appears to correspond to the dissipation of the pore pressures.
The heating appears to have caused irreversible deformations of the clay.
Work programme:
1. CACTUS ONE: Emplacing of a prototype heater with backfilling material and heating after hydro-mechanical equilibrium. It is planned as a preliminary test.
2. CACTUS TWO: Emplacing of a heater with backfilling material and earlier heating.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesnuclear engineeringnuclear waste management
You need to log in or register to use this function
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
92298 CHATENAY MALABRY
France