In-situ Primary Stress Detection Based on Seismic Tomography Measurements and Numerical Back-analysis for an Underground Radwaste Repository

Abstract

In order to understand how the in-situ primary stress state has evolved with subsidence and uplift in a granitic rock mass for anticipated of a radioactive waste repository in Hungary, the authors investigated the applicability of seismic tomography as an interpretive tool. Very high P wave velocity (Vp) values were obtained during the tomographic scanning of the study area of the repository, and these were compared with existing findings of in-situ and laboratory seismic measurements.Apart from seismic tomographic survey, dynamic FEM numerical modelling, empirical calculations of residual stresses, laboratory measurements of compression wave (ultrasonic) velocities on intact rock cores, in-situ primary stress measurements as well as site geological model were integrated to evaluate the use of seismic tomography for identifying possible in-situ stress increases around the excavation.A detailed calibration modelling was carried out based on the site seismic tomography measurements and during the large-scale modelling. It was observed that the increasing Vp is directly related to simulated increasing directional loadings on the rock mass. Using a measured wave raypath it was possible to check the different in-situ stress parametrizations which resulted in the best approximation to the measured Vp values.It was concluded that the rock mass under investigation to extend the repository must have higher in-situ stress values than the area of the constructed deposition chambers nearby. The results of this research indicated that seismic tomography is a useful tool for determining relative stress around and within the vicinity of underground excavation.