Analysis of the hydraulic interaction between clay buffer and host rock in a large scale test

Abstract

Abstract This paper examines the hydraulic interaction between emplaced engineered clay buffers and host rock formations. This has been achieved via the analysis of the re-saturation behaviour of a large scale in-situ experiment. Experimental results from a testing programme performed by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, (AECL), are examined via both direct interpretation of the experimental results and numerical simulations of the test. Analysis of seepage rates into an open borehole indicate the presence of an EDZ prior to the emplacement and some ‘healing’ of the EDZ after buffer placement. It is also found that correct representation of moisture infiltration into the buffer is essential to capture the variations in pore water pressure in the host rock.