Abstract

This paper provides a mathematical description of hydromechanical coupling associated with propagation of localized damage. The framework incorporates an embedded discontinuity approach and addresses the assessment of both hydraulic and mechanical properties in the region intercepted by a fracture. Within this approach, an internal length scale parameter is explicitly employed in the definition of equivalent permeability as well as the tangential stiffness operators. The effect of the progressive evolution of damage on the hydro-mechanical coupling is examined and an evolution law is derived governing the variation of equivalent permeability with the continuing deformation. The framework is verified by a numerical study involving 3D simulation of an axial splitting test carried out on a saturated sample under displacement and fluid pressure-controlled conditions. The finite element analysis incorporates the Polynomial-Pressure-Projection (PPP) stabilization technique and a fully implicit time integration scheme.

Highlights

  • The most widely advocated method for disposal of low and intermediate-level nuclear waste is deep geological disposal

  • A geological repository is supposed to be constructed at a significant depth below the surface and the potential site should fulfill several criteria, which include low permeability, adequate strength, and the long-term stability of the host rock

  • The choice of host rock is mainly governed by the availability of suitable geological formations of adequate thickness and geological setting

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Summary

Introduction

The most widely advocated method for disposal of low and intermediate-level nuclear waste is deep geological disposal. A geological repository is supposed to be constructed at a significant depth below the surface and the potential site should fulfill several criteria, which include low permeability, adequate strength, and the long-term stability of the host rock. The localized zones exhibit strain-softening which, for classical continuum representations, leads to ill-posedness of the initial boundary-value problem [9].

Results
Conclusion

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