Progress in Research on Shear Characteristics of Buffer Materials for High-level Radioactive Waste Repositories
REN Weixin1,2, CAO Shengfei1,2,*, DAI Wenjie3, XIE Jingli1,2, ZHANG Qi1,2
1 Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology, Beijing 100029, China 2 CAEA Innovation Center for Geological Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste, Beijing 100029, China 3 College of Civil Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Abstract: In the context of deep geological repositories for high-level radioactive waste (HLW), the engineered barrier system (EBS) commonly utilizes compacted bentonite as a buffer material. The mechanical strength of compacted bentonite is of paramount importance for the stable operation of the repository. This summary provided a comprehensive review of the fundamental shear characteristics of compacted bentonite, summarized the shear response of soil under near-field conditions, elucidated the mechanisms by which the near-field environment influences soil behavior, and presented an overview of the preliminary investigations into the shear characteristics of compacted bentonite at the engineering scale. The research findings reveal that compacted bentonite exhibits typical mechanical behavior of remolded soil during shear deformation, characterized by more complex stress-strain relationships and deformation characteristics compared to conventional cohesive soils. Elevated temperatures significantly reduce soil strain, resulting in failure modes associated with strain reduction and brittle behavior. The peak strength, cohesion, and internal friction angle of compacted bentonite increase with higher concentrations of pore saline solution. Under unsaturated conditions, the stress-strain relationship is influenced by vertical loading, leading to distinct curve relationships within the same suction range. Currently, there is a scarcity of research on the shear characteristics of compacted bentonite under coupled multi-field conditions. Moreover, with the ongoing development of China’s underground research laboratory for deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste, the research and development of buffer materials are poised to enter the engineering scale stage. The influence of size effects on the mechanical properties of soil remains unclear and necessitates systematic summarization and investigation.
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