FEM analysis for influences of a fault on coupled t-h-m-m process in dual-porosity rock mass

Abstract

For the case in which a large geological structure like fault existing within the surrounding rock mass in the near field of a repository for high-level radioactive nuclear waste, one kind of coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical-migratory model of dual-porosity medium for saturated-unsaturated ubiquitous-joint rock mass was established. In the present model, the seepage field and the concentration field are double, but the stress field and the temperature field are single, and the influences of sets, spaces, angles, continuity ratios, stiffness of fractures on the constitutive relationship of the medium can be considered. At the same time, a two-dimensional program of finite element method was developed. Taking a hypothetical nuclear waste repository located at a rock mass being unsaturated dual-porosity medium as a calculation example, the FEM analysis for thermo-hydro-mechanical-migratory coupling were carried out under the condition of radioactive nuclide leaking for the cases with and without a fault, and the temperatures, pore pressures, flow velocities, nuclide concentrations and principal stresses in the rock mass were investigated. The results show that the fracture water in the fault flows is basically along the fault direction, and its flow velocity is almost three orders of magnitude higher than that of fracture water in rock mass; the nuclide concentration in the fault is also much higher than that without fault, and the nuclides move along the fault faster; moreover, the fault has obvious influences on the pore pressures and the principal stresses in the rock mass.