Heating pulse tests under constant volume on natural Boom clay

Abstract

Boom clay formation is a potential natural host rock for geological disposal of High Level Nuclear Waste in Belgium. Heating pulse tests with controlled power supply (maximum temperature was limited to 85ºC) and controlled hydraulic boundary conditions were performed under nearly constant volume conditions to study the impact of thermal loads on this clay formation. Selected test results on impact borehole samples retrieved in horizontal direction are presented and discussed. Attention is focused on the time evolution of temperature and pore water pressure changes along heating and cooling paths –i.e., pore pressure build-up during quasi-undrained heating and later dissipation at constant temperature-.