Long-term impact of temperature on the hydraulic permeability of bentonite

Harrington, J.F.; Volckaert, G.; Noy, D.J.. 2014 Long-term impact of temperature on the hydraulic permeability of bentonite. In: Norris, S., (ed.) Clays in natural and engineered barriers for radioactive waste confinement. London, UK, Geological Society of London, 589-601. (Geological Society Special Publications, 400).

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/SP400.31

Abstract/Summary

In a Swedish repository for the disposal of heat-emitting waste, the long-term thermal stability of the bentonite engineered barrier forms a key component of the safety case. Central to such consideration is the evolution of hydraulic permeability and a potential degradation of hydraulic properties, in response to prolonged thermal exposure of the clay. To address this issue, a detailed programme of laboratory-based experiments has been undertaken at both the British Geological Survey and Studiecentrum voor Kernenergie/Centre d’Etude de L’Energie Nucleaire, in order to examine the hydraulic behaviour of bentonite that had previously been exposed to elevated temperatures. Hydraulic properties were calculated from both steady-state pressure gradients and from analysis of the pressure transients. Inspection of the data found no significant difference in hydraulic behaviour between the virgin material and clay samples taken from the Canister Retrieval Test. Based on these observations, the authors find no evidence for an adverse increase in hydraulic conductivity of bentonite as a result of prolonged thermal exposure to temperatures of 80 8C.

Item Type:	Publication - Book Section
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1144/SP400.31
ISSN:	0305-8719
Date made live:	10 Jul 2014 10:39 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/507794

Item Type:

Publication - Book Section

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1144/SP400.31

ISSN:

0305-8719

Date made live:

10 Jul 2014 10:39 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/507794