Objective
INTERCLAY II is a coordinated benchmark exercise dealing with the numerical prediction of the rheology of clays. Its broad objectives are to improve confidence in long term predictions of geomechanical behaviour of clay in situations relevant to the underground disposal of radioactive waste.
INTERCLAY II is a coordinated benchmark exercise dealing with the numerical prediction of the rheology of clays. Its broad objectives are to improve confidence in long term predictions of geomechanical behaviour of clay in situations relevant to the underground disposal of radioactive waste.
Following a review of the basic ability of popularly used models and the computer codes which contain them, the following have been formulated:
an axisymmetric 1-dimensional approximation of a cylindrical (ie tunnel) excavation in clay under isothermal and isotropic conditions, with and without a centrally located heat source;
a 2-dimensional, axisymmetric approximation of the progressive excavation of a cylindrical tunnel in clay, again under isotropic, isothermal conditions. Such approximations are relevant to deep repositories;
a plane strain representation of a shallow lined trench repository founded on clay.
In all cases interest centres on the ability of various conceptual models (and the codes in which they are implemented) to predict steady state behaviour.
Work programme:
There are to be 3 principal stages.
In Stage 1 the basic ability of popularly used models and the computer codes which contain them will be briefly reviewed. The review comprises a comparison of the theoretical capabilities of the codes and their performance on 4 simple, somewhat hypothetical problems.
In Stage 2 laboratory tests on reconstituted clays provide the basis for a computational benchmark problem. Participants are asked to replicate the measured laboratory behaviour as far as possible, in their calculations.
In Stage 3 "in-situ" behaviour will be modelled. Sources of well validated in-situ behaviour are relatively scarce and a specially designed heater test is currently in progress at SCK's Mol research facility. Various other "heater" tests at the Mol facility are stand-by candidates. If possible precise details of the actual in-situ behaviour will be withheld from participants so that their predictions are "blind".
Fields of science
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
KT18 5BW Epsom
United Kingdom