SELFRAC: Fractures and self-healing within the excavation disturbed zone in clays

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 01.0075-2

Key words (English)

Nuclear Fission; Radioactive Waste; Safety

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: FIKW-2001-00182

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:
EPF Lausanne
Département de Génie civil
Laboratoire de mécanique des roches LMR

Abstract (English)

As in all nuclear power generating countries, high and long-lived radioactive waste management is an important environmental issue today. Underground storage in deep clay geological formation is one of the promising options to dispose these wastes. An essential item for the long-term safety of High Level Waste underground repositories is the evaluation of the Excavation Disturbed Zone and of the evolution with time of both mechanical and transport properties in this zone. The perturbation of the excavation may induce a significant increase of the permeability, related to diffuse and/or localised crack proliferation in the material. Fortunately self-healing properties of clays can in turn reduce the permeability with time. At this time, these processes are not well known and are only poorly investigated. The main objective of the proposed project is to understand and to quantify these processes.

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: 01.0075-2