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 (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology other engineering and technologies nuclear engineering nuclear waste management
You need to log in or register to use this function
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
28043 MADRID
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.