[en] The disposal of long-lived intermediate-and high-level radioactive waste is a major environmental concern. Deep geological disposal is widely regarded as the safest long-term solution. In Belgium, Boom Clay (BC) has been selected as the reference host formation due to its low permeability, self-sealing properties, and strong capacity to retain radionuclides. One specific waste type, Eurobitum——anintermediate-levelbituminized waste —is storedin steelcanisterswithin the repository.Over time, groundwater is expected to infiltrate the system and come into contact with these canisters. The bituminized waste swells upon water contact, releasing large amounts of (Na, Ca)NO3 and generating a saline plume that diffuses into the BC. This plume, rich in sodium ions (Na+), can significantly impact the clay’s physicochemical and hydro-mechanical behaviour. In this study, undrained triaxial tests under isotropic consolidation were conducted on intact BC samples pre-equilibrated with (Na, Ca)NO3 solutions of varying concentrations. Solutions corresponded to sodium occupancies of 60% (1.0 mol/L) and 90% (2.0 mol/L), along with a reference Boom Clay synthetic water solution (0.015 mol/L NaHCO3). Results showed an increase in shear strength and friction angle with sodium concentration, attributed to clay particle aggregation, shrinkage, and diffuse double layer contraction induced by salinity.
Disciplines :
Civil engineering
Author, co-author :
Mais, Hassan Al ; SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium ; Université de Liège, Liège, Belgium ; Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, Navier Laboratory/CERMES, Marne La Vallée, France
Cui, Yu-Jun ; Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, Navier Laboratory/CERMES, Marne La Vallée, France
Li, Xiang-Ling; EURIDICE, Mol, Belgium
Seetharam, Suresh; SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
Valcke, Elie; SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
Jacques, Diederik; SCK CEN, Mol, Belgium
Georgieva, Temenuga; EURIDICE, Mol, Belgium
Levasseur, Séverine; ONDRAF/NIRAS, Belgium
Collin, Frédéric ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département ArGEnCo
Language :
English
Title :
Impact of (Na, Ca)NO3 concentration on the deviatoric mechanical behaviour of Boom Clay
The research presented in this study was conducted within the framework of a public\u2013public collaboration between ON-DRAF/NIRAS and SCK CEN, and was funded by the Belgian Nuclear Research Center (SCK CEN) in partnership with ULi\u00E8ge and \u00C9cole Nationale des Ponts et Chauss\u00E9es.
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