MODEX-REP: Elaboration of hydromechanical coupled models by interpretation of the disturbances observed during the sinking of the main shaft of an underground laboratory in Eastern France

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 99.0773

Key words (English)

Rock mechanics; hydro-mechanical coupled processes; shaft sinking; mine-by experiment; numerical modelling; validation; verification;
Nuclear Fission; Radioactive Waste; Safety

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: FIKW-2000-00029

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 5.5.2 Nuclear fission

Short description (English)

See abstract

Further information (English)

Full name of research-institution/enterprise:
Nationale Genossenschaft für die Lagerung radioaktive Abfälle NAGRA

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: ANDRA, Chatenay-Malabry (F)

Abstract (English)

An instrument array will record the rock mass response during shaft sinking for an underground research laboratory in Eastern France in a deep argillite formation. This kind of geological formation is considered as a potential host rock for a radioactive waste repository. The proposed MODEX-REP project consists in: development of the constitutive models by analysing surface laboratory tests results; prediction of the rock mass response to shaft excavation; analysis of t he results of in-situ measurements; comparison of the prediction with the measured rock mass response; and validation of the models. The relevance of the constitutive models for predicting rock mass hydromechanical behaviour will be evaluated through the comparison. The models validated by in-situ testing at natural scale will enhance public confidence in prediction capacity. Shaft excavation is not included financially in the proposed project.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 99.0773