Author(s)

R. Lahlou

Abstract

Experimental study of a swelling clay application to the radioactive waste storage R. Lahlou Souterraines de Stockage (G.3S), Ecole Poly technique, 91 128 Palaiseau Cedex, France ABSTRACT The storage of radioactive wastes in rocks requires a backfilling material between the canisters and the rock to delay the migration of radionuclides, in the case of an hydratation. This work aims to characterize such a material using laboratory tests with an original triaxial cell. The main results show the influence of water content and confining pressure on the mechanical properties of the material, especially the volumetric strains. INTRODUCTION The storage of high activity wastes in deep rocks needs to take cares in order to avoid the contamination of the biosphere after a period of thousands years. It is planned to place between the canister and the host rock an engineered barrier which has the function of delaying the movement of radionuclides in the case of an arrival of underground wate

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