Abstract
The safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) is a major issue to ensure environmental protection and the sustainable development of the nuclear energy industry; it is also an equally important issue regarding nuclear safety. Deep-buried geological disposal is recognized worldwide as the safest and most feasible way to protect human beings and the environment. To satisfy the research functions, most underground research laboratories (URLs) for geological repositories are buried deeply, and their layout is quite complex. To research nonlinear deformation characteristics and failure mechanism of deep underground caverns in the process of construction, we developed an intelligent true triaxial non-uniform loading/unloading model test system. The system has the advantages of a large rated output, starting from zero pressure, cyclic loading and unloading, high loading accuracy and displacement test accuracy, and arbitrary adjustment of device size. We carried out a true three-dimensional physical model test, taking the URL for the deep-buried geological disposal of HLW in Beishan area, Gansu Province as the prototype. The nonlinear deformation characteristics and the law of displacement change of the underground laboratory caverns are reproduced. We observed the whole process, from the appearance of micro cracks to the expansion of the cracks and the collapse of the cavern group. This provides an important experimental basis for optimizing the design and construction of URL for the deep-buried geological disposal of HLW. The value and slope of displacement calculated by the numerical simulation are mainly the same as the experimental results of the geological model test, which validates the accuracy and reliability of the model test system in this study.
Highlights
Nuclear energy is a safe and clean energy, and so it is increasingly favored by all countries.Accompanied with the establishment of a large number of nuclear power plants, the amount of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) produced will increase significantly
1, System the intelligent true triaxial non-uniform loading/unloading model test system consists of a combined bench counterforce device, an ultrahigh-pressure triaxial nonAs shown in Figure 1, the intelligent true triaxial non-uniform loading/unloadingtrue model test system uniform loading/unloading device, an intelligent hydraulic loading/unloading and steady pressure consists of a combined bench counterforce device, an ultrahigh-pressure true triaxial non-uniform numerical control system, an automatic displacement monitoring system, and a high-definition loading/unloading device, an intelligent hydraulic loading/unloading and steady pressure numerical multi-probe peeping system
We carried out a true three-dimensional physical model test to verify the reliability of the developed model test system, taking the underground research laboratories (URLs) for the deep-buried geological disposal of HLW in the
Summary
Nuclear energy is a safe and clean energy, and so it is increasingly favored by all countries. A geomechanical model test can study the process of engineering construction, deformation and failure by using the scaled geological model according to a similar principle [23,24]. Li et al [35] designed a discrete 3D multi-principal stress surface loading test system, and applied some new technologies including the excavation method of concealed caverns and inner peep technology, etc Based on this system, they successfully carried out the geomechanical model test of the underground powerhouse group of Xiluodu Hydropower Station. The size of the loading device can unloading and pressure stabilization from low pressure to ultra-high pressure and can directly be adjusted, and it can be loaded or unloaded It can simulate the process of non-uniform loading/. Unloading and pressure stabilization from low pressure to ultra-high pressure and can directly observe the process of excavation deformation and failure
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