Objective
Summary:
The main objective of this proposal is to elaborate an instrumentation programme for the extension of the underground research laboratory at Mol. This programme will allow assessing the performances of mechanised excavation techniques and the corresponding damaged zone reduction in the frame of a High Level Waste repository. This programme will also provide unique experimental data to assess the hydro-mechanical behaviour of the Boom clay in the excavated zone. Indeed, since the connecting gallery will be excavated from the shaft, it will be possible to monitor from the Test-Drift hydro-mechanical parameters near the face of an advancing gallery in the section to be excavated. This problem has been extensively studied (theoretically) but only few experimental data exist. Special attention will be paid to determine the total stresses and pore-water pressure at same location to derive effective stresses. Indeed the assessment of these values is essential to validate properly the hydro-mechanical models. Representative data on the initial hydro-mechanical field conditions for designing, modelling and interpreting future experiments will be determined. The instrumentation programme will include essentially total stress, pore water pressure and deformation measurements around the connecting gallery and in the section to be excavated. Blind predictions will be compared with the experimental investigations and between the different partners. The differences will be analysed and if necessary new simulations might be performed. In order to make the blind predictions more reliable, a limited testing programme is planned to better characterize the clay level to be investigated. In-situ measurements of natural stresses, permeabilities, deformability and strength of rock mass will be performed.
Programme(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
2400 Mol
Belgium