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Developments for in Situ Tests on Compacted Bentonite-Based Buffer Material

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2011

B. H. Kjartanson,
M. N. Gray and
B.C.M. Pulles
B. H. Kjartanson
Affiliation:
AECL Research, Whiteshell Nuclear Research Laboratories, Pinawa, Manitoba, Canada ROE 1LO.
M. N. Gray
Affiliation:
AECL Research, Whiteshell Nuclear Research Laboratories, Pinawa, Manitoba, Canada ROE 1LO.
B.C.M. Pulles
Affiliation:
EBA Consulting Engineers, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5L 2M7.
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Abstract

AECL Research is carrying out large-scale in situ experiments at its Underground Research Laboratory (URL). The Buffer/Container Experiment is designed principally to investigate the full scale, in situ performance of bentonite-based buffer material in a single emplacement borehole environment. In addition, the response of the rock to excavation and heating will be investigated. The experiment also allows for the development of the technologies needed to demonstrate some of the vault engineering activities proposed in the Canadian nuclear fuel waste disposal concept. These include excavation of large diameter boreholes for waste emplacement and in situ compaction of a bentonite/sand buffer mixture. Although these methodologies developed for the URL have not been optimized for the commercial, full-scale operations needed for a disposal vault, results show that the equipment and methodologies needed for vault operations are a reasonable extrapolation of existing technology.

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References

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