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Thermo-Hydro-Mechano-Chemo (THMC) coupling effect in the wall rock of high level radioactive waste disposal (NSFC Program)
2009-09-05                |  Print  |  Text Size: A A A  |   Close
The research on Thermo-Hydro-Mechano-Chemo (THMC) coupling effect in the wall rock of high level radioactive waste disposal is the forefront of current international issues. By participating in the DECOVALEX project, which is known as the longest and most influential international cooperation project in the field of high level radioactive waste disposal, the mechanical and permeability changes caused by chemo-mechanical interaction over the lifetime of the emplacement drift are studied with the three stages of excavation, pre-emplacement and post closure. Under the cooperation with the authoritative scientists in the field, a series research work has been done and the following progresses have been obtained, (1) a meso mechanical method for the rock fracture process experiment under HMC coupling is proposed and the associated experimental system has been established for the first time. Some HMC experiments related rocks have been conducted using this system. (2) complex fracture network reconstruction method and real fracture network modeling methods are developed. (3) an elasto-plastic cellular automaton for the rock failure process simulation has been established, which providing a software platform for the research of high-level radioactive nuclear waste geological disposal with consideration of coupled THM effect. (4) In the case of back-to-back studies, respectively, of two high-level radioactive waste repositories, temperature, total pressure of tunnel wall and the evolution pattern of horizontal and vertical stress near the repository roadway etc. are obtained with the temperature - flow – stress coupling processes simulation. The simulation results agree well with the results conducted by other research teams (e.g., Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory of USA research team). Our work has been recognized by domestic and foreign counterparts. With the adoption of the research, a scientific research team with advanced theory, experimental techniques and numerical simulation tools has been developed.
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