The Beishan underground research laboratory for geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste in China: Planning,site selection,site characterization and in situ tests

With the rapid development of nuclear power in China, the disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) has become an important issue for nuclear safety and environmental protection. Deep geological disposal is internationally accepted as a feasible and safe way to dispose of HLW, and underground research laboratories (URLs) play an important and multi-faceted role in the development of HLW repositories. This paper introduces the overall planning and the latest progress for China's URL. On the basis of the proposed strategy to build an area-specific URL in combination with a comprehensive evaluation of the site selection results obtained during the last 33 years, the Xinchang site in the Beishan area, located in Gansu Province of northwestern China, has been selected as the final site for China's first URL built in granite. In the process of characterizing the Xinchang URL site, a series of investigations, including borehole drilling, geological mapping, geophysical surveying, hydraulic testing and in situ stress measurements, has been conducted. The investigation results indicate that the geological, hydrogeological, engineering geological and geochemical conditions of the Xinchang site are very suitable for URL construction. Meanwhile, to validate and develop construction technologies for the Beishan URL, the Beishan exploration tunnel (BET), which is a 50-m-deep facility in the Jiujing sub-area, has been constructed and several in situ tests, such as drill-and-blast tests, characterization of the excavation damaged zone (EDZ), and long-term deformation monitoring of surrounding rocks, have been performed in the BET. The methodologies and technologies established in the BET will serve for URL construction. According to the achievements of the characterization of the URL site, a preliminary design of the URL with a maximum depth of 560 m is proposed and necessary in situ tests in the URL are planned.     

深部高地应力巷道断面优化研究

巷道失稳和维护困难是困扰高地应力深部矿井的普遍问题,严重影响矿井的生产和经济效益的提高。深部矿井高地应力巷道有其自身的应力分布特点,对巷道的支护设计提出了更高的要求。研究从巷道断面优化着手,根据深部矿井高地应力巷道的地质赋存特征,结合淮南-780m水平现场地应力测试及室内岩石物理力学性质测试结果,运用FLAC3D三维显式有限差分法分析软件,建立巷道支护的三维数值计算模型,通过对几种方案巷道周边塑性区分布、应力场、位移场等的分析对比,得到了较为易于维持巷道稳定的巷道断面优化设计方案。     

Excavation of underground research laboratory ramp in granite using tunnel boring machine: Feasibility study

Underground research laboratory (URL) plays an important role in safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW). At present, the Xinchang site, located in Gansu Province of China, has been selected as the final site for China’s first URL, named Beishan URL. For this, a preliminary design of the Beishan URL has been proposed, including one spiral ramp, three shafts and two experimental levels. With advantages of fast advancing and limited disturbance to surrounding rock mass, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) method could be one of the excavation methods considered for the URL ramp. This paper introduces the feasibility study on using TBM to excavation of the Beishan URL ramp. The technical challenges for using TBM in Beishan URL are identified on the base of geological condition and specific layout of the spiral ramp. Then, the technical feasibility study on the specific issues, i.e. extremely hard rock mass, high abrasiveness, TBM operation, muck transportation, water drainage and material transportation, is investigated. This study demonstrates that TBM technology is a feasible method for the Beishan URL excavation. The results can also provide a reference for the design and construction of HLW disposal engineering in similar geological conditions. © 2020 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).     

广西柳州经合山至南宁高速公路吾排隧道工程地质特性评价

工程地质特性会直接影响工程设计和施工。文章在详细分析吾排隧道工程地质概况、不良地质作用,水文地质特征等基础上,对隧道岩体工程地质特征、隧道围岩分级进行研究,最后对隧址区域稳定性,隧道进出洞口边坡、仰坡稳定性,隧道围岩稳定性、岩爆及偏压问题进行评价。研究结果为全面提升隧道工程施工质量和建设水平提供可靠的数据支撑。     

徐圩港区泊位工程场址工程地质评价研究

以徐圩港池12-17#泊位工程的工程地质评价为研究对象,先介绍了工程地质评价所采用的方法,包括地质调查、地质钻探、原位测试、室内试验,并对实施过程进行了介绍;通过评价方法采用和过程的实施,获得了徐圩港区泊位工程场址的工程地质条件;从"岩土单元体工程性质、地基均匀性、水不良作用、特殊性岩土、不良地质作用、场地稳定性、场地适宜性"7个方面对徐圩港区泊位工程场址的工程地质进行全面评价,评价结论作为接下来设计、施工的依据;最后总结了场区工程地质的关键问题和技术,以期为今后同类工程的建设和评价提供有益的借鉴。     

An investigation of the excavation damaged zone at the KAERI underground research tunnel

The disturbance of a rock due to a blasting impact or stress redistribution can significantly influence the overall performance of an underground excavation. In order to investigate the characteristics of the EDZ (Excavation Damaged Zone) developed during the construction of the KAERI underground research tunnel in Korea (KURT), which is an underground research tunnel for a Korean high-level radioactive waste disposal program, various in situ and laboratory tests were carried out. A Goodman jack test showed that the deformation modules were influenced by a blasting to a depth of 1.5–2 m. With empirical equations, the EDZ could be predicted as 0.3–2.3 m. The average RQD from the rock cores at 0–2 m, where the blasting impact was significant, was 17% lower than that from the deeper regions. From the laboratory tests, the EDZ size could be estimated to be around 0.9–1.5 m. The elastic modules in the EDZ were decreased by about 56%. From a borehole radar reflection survey and a subtracting technique, it was possible to detect the new reflectors generated by a tunnel blasting. By using the determined EDZ size and the properties from the laboratory and in situ tests, a sensitivity analysis was performed. From the sensitivity analysis with seven parameters, it was possible to determine that the in situ stress ratio, Young’s modules, and EDZ size were the three main parameters.     

大梁山隧道进口破碎围岩段开挖施工技术

大梁山特长隧道进口段地形、地质条件复杂,施工困难。通过工程分析和方案设计,破碎围岩段隧道进口施工时,预留核心土对在开挖过程中隧道的围岩变形和支护受力有很大影响,对隧道围岩的稳定性起着至关重要的作用,故采用环形开挖预留核心土法施工。通过小导管注浆超前支护,加强施工质量控制及监测,确保了工程质量和安全。     

FAST大型岩溶洼地场地岩土治理关键技术研究

FAST(500m口径球面射电望远镜)选址于大型岩溶洼地,洼地的工程地质和水文地质条件极为复杂,台址开挖制约因素多并相互交叉影响,技术难度大,岩土治理具有独特性和开创性,该课题取得如下创新性成果：①建立大型岩溶洼地开挖中心多目标多属性优化决策的分析确定方法,求解出性能最佳、造价最低、地质危害最小的开挖中心空间坐标;②针对含有较大粒径的岩堆,基于离散元计算结果,提出岩堆主动土压力的计算方法,并提出适用于山区的岩堆整体补强加固结构;③针对大型岩溶洼地边坡外形特点,分析凸坡、凹坡的稳定性及影响因素,并分析望远镜下拉索拉力作用对球冠形边坡稳定性的影响;④针对两处裂隙发育强烈的超高岩质边坡的静动力稳定性进行离散元模拟,根据所揭示出的破坏模式提出相应的加固措施;⑤根据FAST洼地的地貌特征,采用人工泄水隧道与天然岩溶管道流相结合的排泄系统,建立起大型岩溶洼地综合防洪、排水系统,有效地降低地表水、地下水对FAST工程的影响。课题成果在FAST工程中得到全面的成功应用,为射电望远镜国家科研重大基础设施建设的顺利实施提供重要支撑。     

特殊地质条件下隧道围岩分级与支护设计原则

列举了几种在隧道勘察设计、施工中经常遇到的特殊地质条件,并对其围岩分级与支护设计原则提出了一些粗浅的见解,对勘察设计人员及施工人员具有一定指导意义。     

V8可控源音频大地电磁法在铁路隧道不良地质勘察中的应用

铁路隧道不良地质调查是规避施工风险的重要方面,高效快捷的可控源音频大地电磁法利用不同岩性和相同岩性不同辅存结构间所反映的电性特征差异,可以较好地进行围岩级别划分和断裂破碎带判别,为隧道设计和施工提供资料依据。文章结合云桂线铁路定测阶段的施工,选择了灰岩、砂页岩、板岩及含矿围岩等典型地段具体实例,对围岩分级和不良地质体圈定进行了分析,并认为在隧道施工中兼顾矿产资源勘查也是必要的。     

物探在环山坪隧道详勘地质工作中的应用

采用高密度电阻率成像法进行了工程物探和工程水文地质调查,通过对物探数据的处理、反演,探明了环山坪隧道区域断裂带的位置、规模及溶洞发育的规模,查明了隧道所处围岩的工程地质特征,为地质详勘和隧道施工设计提供参考依据。     

软弱夹层对隧道围岩稳定性影响规律研究

宜巴高速公路石门垭隧道具有地质条件复杂、围岩软硬交替、高地应力等特点,施工过程中常发生围岩层状剥落、侧墙滑塌等现象,严重威胁隧道施工安全。为确保施工安全,有必要采取一些措施为实际施工提供技术指导,采用FLAC^3D有限差分法分析软件,模拟分析了隧道含不同倾角及位置的软弱夹层时围岩的稳定性,通过分析围岩位移场、塑性区及应力场的分布特征,得出了软弱夹层倾角及位置对隧道围岩变形、破坏区及应力分布的影响规律。所得结论可为同类隧道的设计、施工和研究提供借鉴和参考。     

20 years of excavation response studies at AECL''s Underground Research Laboratory

Incremental development of a rock mechanics, rock fracturing, and excavation stability knowledge base has been ongoing at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's (AECL's) Underground Research Laboratory (URL) since shaft excavation commenced in 1982. Excavation response experiments conducted as part of shaft construction recorded displacements, shaft convergence, stress changes, and microseismic events in the rock as excavation progressed. An excavation response test at the 240 Level of the URL involved similar monitoring, as well as pore pressure measurements, of a horizontal tunnel excavated through a subvertical water-bearing fracture. These precursor studies led to a series of experiments in the more highly stressed rock at the 420 Level of the URL to investigate the formation of rock damage around tunnels, and to assess the factors that influence the stability of excavations. The first of these experiments was the Mine-by Experiment, an excavation response study involving a mechanically excavated cylindrical tunnel in a pre-instrumented rock volume. The Heated Failure Tests were subsequently conducted in the same rock volume to assess the influence of thermal loading on damage development. These investigations were complemented by studies of borehole breakouts in adjacent excavations. The Excavation Stability Study, which involved excavating ten tunnel segments of different geometry to assess the effects of excavation design on stability and damage development, followed these experiments. The Tunnel Sealing Experiment, focused on developing sealing technologies, also provided insight into the excavation response of the rock mass. The excavation response experiments at the URL culminated in the Thermal-Mechanical Stability Study (TMSS), a comprehensive study to link characterization, numerical modeling, monitoring, and design of underground excavations. This paper provides an overview of the various experiments and studies leading up to the TMSS, highlighting the advances in our fundamental understanding of rock mechanics related to underground excavations, and in our means of designing stable underground openings with minimal excavation damage.     

Engineering geological appraisal of the Sulakyurt dam site,Turkey

This paper discusses the engineering geological investigations, diversion tunnel support design and slope stability assessment studies carried out at the Sulakyurt dam site, northeast of Ankara, Turkey. The Sulakyurt dam will be used for flood flow control and water storage for irrigation. Engineering geological mapping, discontinuity surveys, core drilling, water absorption and laboratory tests were undertaken. The RMR, Q and GSI approaches were used to estimate the rock mass quality, site characteristics, rock mass parameters and appropriate tunnel support elements. The results of kinematic and limit equilibrium analyses for the slopes on the right and left banks are reported.      

模糊层次评价法在隧道地质灾害评估中的应用

运用模糊层次评价法对椿树垭隧道施工中可能遇到的地质灾害风险进行了评估。采用德尔菲法建立了椿树垭隧道地质灾害风险评价指标体系;运用层次分析法计算各风险因素的相对权重;以问卷调查的形式对各风险因素进行单因素评价并建立模糊关系矩阵;采用模糊综合评价法计算出椿树垭隧道地质灾害的风险等级及风险值。评估结果:在椿树垭隧道施工中最可能发生的地质灾害风险是岩溶和岩爆,其次为塌方和涌水,而发生大变形和瓦斯的可能性则非常小。椿树垭隧道整体综合评价风险等级为三级,即中等风险。应用表明:该方法是可行的,可以为隧道施工制定或完善施工方案和确定综合超前地质预报方法提供依据。     

无锡轨道交通盾构小半径曲线施工技术

无锡市轨道交通一号线湖滨路站～大学城站段处于软土地区,隧道最小曲线半径300m,采用盾构法施工.施工前在小半径曲线段加密勘探钻孔获得准确地质资料,制定盾构过小半径曲线段专项施工方案,选用前铰接式盾构及合理隧道管片;施工中严格控制盾构掘进参数;后期通过吊装孔打锚杆或注浆加固;在施工过程中及时纠偏.保证小半径曲线段不发生明显偏移.     

Design and operation problems related to water curtain system for underground water-sealed oil storage caverns

The underground water-sealed storage technique is critically important and generally accepted for the national energy strategy in China.Although several small underground water-sealed oil storage caverns have been built in China since the 1970 s,there is still a lack of experience for large-volume underground storage in complicated geological conditions.The current design concept of water curtain system and the technical instruction for system operation have limitations in maintaining the stability of surrounding rock mass during the construction of the main storage caverns,as well as the long-term stability.Although several large-scale underground oil storage projects are under construction at present in China,the design concepts and construction methods,especially for the water curtain system,are mainly based on the ideal porosity medium flow theory and the experiences gained from the similar projects overseas.The storage projects currently constructed in China have the specific features such as huge scale,large depth,multiple-level arrangement,high seepage pressure,complicated geological conditions,and high in situ stresses,which are the challenging issues for the stability of the storage caverns.Based on years' experiences obtained from the first large-scale(millions of cubic meters) underground water-sealed oil storage project in China,some design and operation problems related to water curtain system during project construction are discussed.The drawbacks and merits of the water curtain system are also presented.As an example,the conventional concept of "filling joints with water" is widely used in many cases,as a basic concept for the design of the water curtain system,but it is immature.In this paper,the advantages and disadvantages of the conventional concept are pointed out,with respect to the long-term stability as well as the safety of construction of storage caverns.Finally,new concepts and principles for design and construction of the underground water-sealed oil storage caverns are proposed.     

复杂隧道围岩安全性及其评价方法

 在对国内外现行隧道围岩分级方法分析的基础上,指出了其在隧道工程设计和安全性控制,尤其是复杂围岩控制设计方面存在的突出问题,认为现行的隧道围岩分级概念模糊,难以适应复杂多变的地层条件和较为严苛的环境控制要求,尤其是对稳定性较差的复杂围岩条件缺乏有效的指导作用。从隧道围岩控制的宗旨出发,提出了隧道围岩及其支护系统安全性的概念,明确了其科学内涵和表征方法;重点对于不具备自稳能力的复杂围岩安全性进行了研究,建立了隧道围岩安全性的分析模型,提出了隧道围岩安全性分析中应考虑围岩预加固效果的必要性及其评价方法;基于隧道围岩尺度效应和地层结构效应(时间效应)的分析,建立了围岩尺度响应的表述方法,同时从细观结构层面分析了不同地层结构形式对安全性的影响关系;结合“支护–围岩”动态作用关系的分析,建立了极不稳定地层条件下复杂隧道围岩安全性的评价指标体系,将围岩超前变形、超前破坏和地层加固有效性作为核心评价指标,形成了包括9项基础指标的评价体系,并提出了安全性的分级方法。最后介绍了隧道围岩安全性的分级方案的工程应用。     

深埋长大泰宁隧道现场监控量测及分析

结合泰宁隧道的工程实践,通过拱顶沉降、围岩收敛、围岩压力和钢拱架内力的现场监控量测工作,研究复杂地质条件下上下台阶法施工时围岩的稳定性。研究的方法、分析过程和结论可为类似条件下隧道工程的设计、施工、监测和进一步的理论研究提供参考和借鉴。     

海底隧道修建中的关键问题

结合厦门东通道海底隧道工程，对海底隧道最小岩石覆盖层厚度、水压力设计值的确定，衬砌结构断面优化与防排水方案，穿越海底不良地质段（断层、溶槽）的施工措施及服务隧道设置的必要性问题进行了分析。提出应从围岩稳定性和隧道涌水量的大小综合考虑最小岩石覆盖层厚度；采用限量排放的防排水方案对海底隧道较为适宜；施工中可采用注浆和冻结法穿越海底的不良地质段；设置服务隧道有利于隧道施工和运营管理。