Feasibility of constructing a full-scale radioactive high-level waste disposal cell and characterization of its thermo-hydro-mechanical behavior

Within the context of deep geological radioactive waste disposal, French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency (Andra) is conducting a research program including in-situ experiments at Meuse/Haute-Marne Underground Research Laboratory (MHM URL), which aims to demonstrate feasibility constructing and operating High Level (HLW) disposal facility in Callovo-Oxfordian (COx) claystone formation improve it. ALC1604 experiment an heating test reproducing full-scale HLW cell. Heating devices were placed last 15 m 25 long steel cased micro-tunnel mimic heat emitted by packages. The present allows study response cell surrounding rock under thermal loading. More specifically, this studied thermo-mechanical (TM) behavior sleeve, equipped with strain gauges, displacement sensors, temperature etc., monitored evolution annular space (the gap between sleeve rock). It also thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) near/far field through pore pressure measurements installed peripheral boreholes. TM THM are numerically reproduced chosen parameters compared previous small-scale conducted MHM URL order reliability material COx. lessons learned from has provided valuable feedback towards implementing new consistent benchmark concept.