Hydraulic properties of bentonite buffer material beyond 100 °C

Bentonite buffer materials are important components of engineered barrier systems for the disposal high-level radioactive waste produced during nuclear power generation. The design temperature material is < 100 °C, and increasing can reduce required area. This characteristic necessitates evaluation thermal–hydraulic–mechanical properties at temperatures above °C to increase its target temperature. Therefore, hydraulic Gyeongju (KJ) bentonite were evaluated in this study, including soil–water curve (SWCC) conductivity. An experimental system was manufactured measure suction saturated conductivity KJ °C; relative humidity measured 25–149 with an initial water content 0, 0.06, 0.12 under constant saturation conditions. decreased as increased (10%–25% reduction 99 °C-149 °C). Van-Genuchten SWCC fitting parameters also derived 25 using previously reported newly generated results, applicability modified model range verified. proportional up agreement theoretical results. Between 150 nonlinearly because molecular motion structural changes inside sample.