Analysis of a full scale in situ test simulating repository conditions

Abstract

Coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) analyses have been used to examine the interacting phenomena associated with the simultaneous heating and hydration of an engineered bentonite barrier placed in a drift excavated in granite. The specific problem studied is an in situ test being carried out in the underground laboratory at Grimsel (Switzerland). After describing the test and the theoretical formulation, the results of a coupled THM analysis using the best parameter estimation currently available are presented and discussed. The ffect of various features of analysis are explored by means of additional analyses in which each of those features are varied, one at the time. Finally, sensitivity analyses have been carried out to examine some critical aspects of the in situ test design. Performance of coupled THM analyses has led to a better understanding of the various inter-related phenomena occurring during heating and hydration of the engineered clay barrier.