DECOVALEX—An international co-operative research project on mathematical models of coupled THM processes for safety analysis of radioactive waste repositories

Abstract

An international co-operative research project has been established under the name DECOVALEX for theoretical and experimental studies of coupled thermal, hydrological and mechanical processes in hard rocks. The capability of modelling coupled phenomena is of particular importance to the safety assessment of geologic disposal of radioactive waste materials. Different mathematical models and computer codes have been developed by different national research teams and these are used to study the so-called bench mark test and test case problems developed within this project. Bench mark tests are defined as initial-boundary value problems of a generic nature, and test cases are experimental investigations of part or full aspects of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical processes in hard rocks. Presented in this introductory paper are the motivation, organization and approaches of the project, definitions of bench mark tests and test case problems and descriptions of mathematical models used in Phase I of the DECOVALEX project. A brief introduction to the Phase II and Phase III of the project is also presented.