Swelling pressure of compacted MX80 bentonite/sand mixture prepared by different methods

Compacted bentonite/sand mixture have been considered as possible sealing/backfilling material in the deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive nuclear waste. The swelling pressure of the compacted bentonite/sand mixture is of significance in the design of the geological repository, which requires good consistency between data obtained by laboratory and field measurement. In this work, a series of swelling pressure tests were performed on compacted MX80 bentonite/sand specimens prepared by methods commonly adopted in laboratory (As-compacted, Transferred) and those mimicking the real block manufacturing process (Trimmed, Inserted). Results shown that with identical dry density (especially when the dry density was larger than 1.70 Mg/m³), largest swelling pressure was obtained in specimens prepared by method Inserted, followed by method As-compacted, Transferred and Trimmed. The distinct difference between the swelling pressure could be largely attributed to the effects of residual post-compaction lateral stress. More interestingly, specimens prepared by methods Trimmed and Transferred followed a similar swelling pressure-dry density relationship. From this point of view, method Transferred without causing mass loss, change of bentonite content and possible technological voids effect was recommended in lieu of method Trimmed for specimen preparation in laboratory.     

膨润土及其与砂混合物的膨胀试验

用固结仪完成了膨润土及其与砂混合物的一系列膨胀变形试验，由试验结果得到了蒙脱石孔隙比与上覆压力的通用表达式。试验结果表明，膨润土及其与砂混合物的膨胀变形特性与试样的击实条件有关，膨胀变形试验结果反映了膨胀矿物与水的相互作用。     

高庙子膨润土膨胀力时效性试验研究

针对高庙子膨润土在不同含水率和不同干密度条件下膨胀力时效性进行了试验研究。首先采用静力压实法将3种不同含水率的高庙子膨润土粉末压实为两种不同密实状态的试样,随后在保持压实试样的体积和含水率不变的条件下,分别静置0,1,7,15,30和90 d,最后采用膨胀仪对完成静置试样的膨胀力进行量测;同时结合静置过程,完成了部分试样的扫描电镜（SEM）试验。试验结果表明：高庙子膨润土的膨胀力随静置时间的增长不断减小,且前期减小明显,后期逐渐趋于稳定;膨胀力的时效性与试样初始条件有关,试样含水率和干密度越大,膨胀力随静置时间的衰减越明显,即时效性越强。SEM试验结果表明,静置90 d后,高庙子膨润土内的蒙脱石发生了水化,集合体分解,颗粒相互黏结,微观孔隙结构趋于均质化,呈现点阵式的絮状结构;试样静置过程中不同微观结构层次之间的水分重分布导致的蒙脱石水化是高庙子膨润土静置过程中膨胀力降低的主要内在原因。     

基于渗流分析的膨润土力学状态计算方法

提出一种渗流分析和力学计算相结合的方法来分析膨润土在吸水膨胀过程中的力学状态.首先,通过渗流分析获得土体中的饱和度分布;其次,根据饱和度与膨胀力之间的关系求得膨胀力的分布;最后,将膨胀力作为初始应力带入模型,进行力学计算.对两组膨润土进行注水试验,并测量膨润土土压力的变化.将计算的结果和试验测量数据进行对比,以检验提出的计算方法的精确性.对比结果表明,计算结果与试验测量结果数值吻合较好.得出结论：利用渗流分析与力学计算相结合的计算方法计算力膨润土在吸水过程中的力学状态分布具有可行性.     

The effects of technological voids on the hydro-mechanical behaviour of compacted bentonite–sand mixture

Compacted bentonite-based materials are often used as buffer materials in radioactive waste disposal. A good understanding of their hydro-mechanical behaviour is essential to ensure disposal safety. In this study, a mixture of MX80 bentonite and sand was characterised in the laboratory in terms of water retention property, swelling pressure, compressibility and hydraulic conductivity. The effects of the technological voids or the voids inside the soil were investigated. The technological voids are referred to as the macro-pores related to different interfaces involving the buffer material, whereas the voids inside the soil are referred to as common macro-pores within the compacted bentonite/sand mixture. The results obtained show that at high suction, the amount of water absorbed in the soil depends solely on suction, whereas at low suction it depends on both suction and the bentonite void ratio. There is a unique relationship between the swelling pressure and the bentonite void ratio, regardless of the sample nature (homogeneous or not) and the sand fraction. However, at the same bentonite void ratio, a higher hydraulic conductivity was obtained on the samples with technological voids. The effect of sand fraction was evidenced in the mechanical yield behaviour: at the same bentonite void ratio, the bentonite–sand mixture yielded at a higher pre-consolidation stress.     

温度对GMZ膨润土的膨胀性能影响研究

在25℃,40℃,60℃和90℃的蒸馏水中对高庙子(GMZ)膨润土进行了膨胀性能试验。由于在试验条件下渗透膨胀占主导地位,GMZ膨润土的膨胀性能随温度的升高而增大,其中最大膨胀率随温度线性增加,而膨胀力随温度呈指数增加。压实GMZ膨润土的膨胀性能可用em=Kp^D-3表示。N2吸附试验结果表明温度对GMZ膨润土的表面分维D基本没有影响。在渗透膨胀条件下,采用扩散双层模型计算发现膨胀系数K与温度T_c之间存在线性关系,并且通过GMZ膨润土和Bikaner膨润土的膨胀试验进行了验证。将K–T_c线性关系与e_m–p分形关系相结合,提出了温度作用下GMZ膨润土膨胀性能的一种简便定量评价方法。     

钠钾盐梯度循环作用下高压实膨润土膨胀力衰变特性

高放废物深地质处置库近场环境中,高压实膨润土将长期遭受含盐地下水的循环化学作用,导致其膨胀性能不断衰变。针对干密度为1.7 g/cm3的高压实高庙子(GMZ)膨润土,分别开展了0.5 mol/L和1.0 mol/L两种盐梯度、Na Cl-水-KCl和Na Cl-水不同循环路径下的恒体积膨胀力试验,探讨盐梯度循环化学作用下其膨胀力的衰变特性。结果表明:盐梯度循环作用下,膨润土膨胀力的发展与离子种类、浓度和循环次数等因素有关。盐化阶段膨胀力不断降低,淡化阶段膨胀力有所提高;低盐度梯度循环下各阶段的稳定膨胀力均高于高盐度梯度循环时的膨胀力。随着循环次数的增加,稳定膨胀力逐渐下降,入渗溶液浓度越高,降幅越大,且衰减幅度随着循环次数的增加而减小。KCl溶液的入渗会引起膨润土发生矿物相变,膨胀力显著降低;当KCl溶液浓度达到一定值时,蒙脱石的充分溶解导致膨润土丧失膨胀能力。     

高压实高庙子膨润土GMZ01的膨胀力特征

 高放废物深地质处置中，缓冲/回填材料系统起着工程屏障、水力学屏障、化学屏障、传导和散失放射性废物衰变热等重要作用，是高放废物地质处置库长期安全性和稳定性的有效保障。前人研究表明，膨润土是理想的缓冲/回填材料。在归纳总结压实膨润土膨胀力的室内试验研究成果的基础上，采用恒体积试验法研究高压实高庙子膨润土GMZ01的膨胀力特性，该膨润土已经被确定为我国高放废物地质处置库首选缓冲材料。结果表明，高压实高庙子膨润土GMZ01膨胀力随时间的变化曲线是一条渐近线，而时间/膨胀力与时间之间存在很好的线性关系；膨胀力发展过程曲线与吸水量曲线具有明显的阶段性特征；高压实高庙子膨润土的膨胀力和干密度之间存在指数关系，干密度是影响膨胀力的一项重要的因素。所取得的膨胀力特性成果，对于高庙子膨润土膨胀性能的正确判定具有非常重要的意义。     

砂-膨润土混合物膨胀力影响因素的研究

在放射性废料地质处置中，砂－膨润土混合物可用作缓冲回填材料，因而引起了人们对其性能的更加关注。通过室内试验，初步研究了砂－膨润混合物在不同含水量（4％－17．9％）、膨润土含量（10％－50％）和干密度（1．35－1．84g/cm^2）状态下的膨胀性能。通过对试验结果的分析，获得了一些有意义的结论。试验研究表明：砂－膨润土混合物的膨胀性能取决于其干密度、膨润土含量和含水量。含水量小于塑限含水量时，其膨胀稳定后的影响因素的分析中，使用蒙脱石的填充率这一参数来描述膨胀力。把粘土矿物含量、干密度的影响都统一到蒙脱石填充率对膨胀力的影响，建立了蒙脱石密度与膨胀力的函数关系。     

Deterioration of swelling pressure of compacted Gaomiaozi bentonite induced by heat combined with hyperalkaline conditions

Compacted bentonite has been considered a suitable engineered barrier material for high-level radioactive waste (HLW) repositories for several decades. However, hyperalkaline groundwater produced by cementitious materials, combined with the heat generated by nuclear decay during the long-term storage of waste canisters, may cause the deterioration of the swelling properties of compacted bentonite. In this study, a series of swelling pressure tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests were performed on compacted Gaomiaozi (GMZ) bentonite (dry density 1.7 Mg/m³) to investigate the deterioration of the swelling pressure. Results indicated that the deterioration of the swelling pressure was facilitated by the temperature when the same concentration of NaOH solution was infiltrated, and a model of swelling pressure deterioration was developed to predict the long-term swelling pressure. Furthermore, the dissolution of montmorillonite and some silicate minerals, as well as the formation of non-expanding secondary minerals, led to transformations of the agglomeration patterns of the soil particles and structural damage to the bentonite, which controlled the long-term deterioration of the swelling pressure. Therefore, for the long-term operation of an HLW repository, the deterioration of the swelling pressure of compacted bentonite should be monitored, and safety assessments should account for the effects of heat and alkalinity.     

Swelling pressure characteristics of compacted Chinese Gaomiaozi bentonite GMZ01

Gaomiaozi bentonite (GMZ01) has been decided upon as the first option for use as buffer/backfill materials in the deep disposal of high-level radioactive waste in China. The basic functions of the materials used in the waste repositories request among others a sufficient swelling pressure and low hydraulic conductivity in order to provide long-term stability to the barrier system under environmental pressure and behavior of the waste loads. As such, it is necessary to investigate the influence of initial dry density on the swelling properties of Gaomiaozi bentonite (GMZ01) in order to achieve better design of buffer/backfill materials. In this study the swelling pressure of GMZ01 has been studied and analyzed by multi and one-step wetting constant volume tests with five different dry densities (1.15, 1.35, 1.50, 1.60 and 1.75 mg/m³). Results show that swelling pressure changes with time nonlinearly, while there is a linear relationship between time/swelling pressure and time. Curves of swelling pressure and the amount of absorbed water varying with time can be classified into typical phases. For the GMZ01 tested here, the initial dry density is an important factor influencing the swelling pressure. The results show that there is an exponential relationship between swelling pressure and dry density. Moreover, comparison was done between the experimental swelling pressure results of used GMZ bentonite in this study and other bentonites cited in literature: (i) other GMZ׳s and (ii) different types of bentonites proposed as buffer/backfill materials (i.e., MX80, Kunigel, Montigel, and Calcigel). The effect on the microstructure of the density and the wetting under the constant volume condition (after the swelling pressure test) has been investigated by studying the results of pore size distribution for GMZ01 by using the mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) test and the environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) photos. Finally, two different theoretical concepts were used to estimate the swelling pressure (the modified DDL and thermodynamics approaches). The results of the two methods show that the swelling pressure results compare relatively well with the experimental data for the GMZ bentonite.     

氯化钠溶液饱和不同初始含水率膨润土的膨胀特性

采用不同初始含水率控制土颗粒扩散双电层的形成程度,进行了一系列氯化钠溶液饱和膨胀试验,探究了具有不同扩散双电层厚度膨润土样在不同浓度氯化钠溶液中的膨胀特性,并对不同初始含水率膨润土样进行核磁试验。核磁试验结果表明,当初始含水率小于10%时,最优T2值不随着含水率增加而增加,根据T2值与水的赋存半径关系,说明此时土样只有强结合水存在,即土样强结合水率为10%。这与用其它方法算出的强结合水率基本一致,说明核磁共振技术可测定出土样的强结合水率。膨胀试验结果表明,当初始含水率小于10%时,不同浓度氯化钠溶液饱和试样时,其膨胀性基本不变;而用氯化钠溶液初始含水率大于10%试样时,随着其浓度的增加,膨胀率明显降低。造成上述差异的原因是,当只有强结合水存在时,试样被氯化钠溶液饱和后,土颗粒会吸附水化的阳离子,增加土颗粒固定电荷,导致膨胀力增加,增加试样的膨胀性,而随着溶液浓度的增加双电层厚度与膨胀力降低,会降低试样的膨胀性。     

Effect of water chemistry on the hydro-mechanical behaviour of compacted mixtures of claystone and Na/Ca-bentonites for deep geological repositories

In the French deep geological disposal for radioactive wastes, compacted bentonite/claystone mixtures have been considered as possible sealing materials. After emplacement in place, such mixtures are hydrated by the site solution as well as the cement solution produced by the degradation of concrete. In this study, the effects of synthetic site solution and cement solution on the hydro-mechanical behaviour of compacted mixtures of claystone and two types of bentonites (MX80 Na-bentonite and Sardinia Ca-bentonite) were investigated by carrying out a series of swelling pressure, hydraulic conductivity and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) tests. It was found that for the MX80 bentonite/claystone mixture hydrated with synthetic site solution, the swelling capacity was reduced compared to the case with deionised water owing to the transformation of Na-montmorillonite to multi-cation dominant montmorillonite by cation exchanges. For the Sardinia bentonite/claystone mixture, the similar increasing rate of swelling pressure was observed during the crystalline swelling process for different solutions, suggesting insignificant cation exchanges. Additionally, the cations in the synthetic site solution could reduce the thickness of diffuse double layer and the osmotic swelling for both MX80 bentonite/claystone and Sardinia bentonite/claystone mixtures. The large-pore volume increased consequently and enhanced water flow. In the cement solution, the hydroxide could also dissolve the montmorillonite, reducing the swelling pressure, and increase the large-pore volume, facilitating the water flow. Furthermore, the decrease of swelling pressure and the increase of hydraulic conductivity were more significant in the case of low dry density because of more intensive interaction between montmorillonite and hydroxide due to the high permeability.     

膨润土防水材料的防水机理

以钠基膨润土为原料,选用合适的匹配材料和添加剂加工制作的膨润土防水板、膨润土胶泥和膨润土止水条是利用钠基膨润土遇水膨胀性而以水止水、自封结构和防水基面上的小裂缝,并给防水基面施加膨胀压力,保证防水效果。     

接缝对高压实膨润土工程屏障自封闭性能的影响

 以高庙子膨润土为研究对象,采用自主研制的多功能膨胀–渗透仪,对不同初始干密度的试样进行不同接缝宽度条件下的膨胀力和渗透试验,并对水化后的膨润土进行水银孔隙率定试验,从微观结构层面分析接缝对膨润土渗透性的影响机制。结果表明：接缝的存在将导致膨润土的膨胀力减小、渗透性增大,从而降低膨润土在处置库中的自封闭性能;在水化过程中,接缝的存在会引起膨润土内部孔隙大小和数量的变化,宏观表现为膨润土渗透性增大。     

压实膨润土膨胀应变时效性试验及模型研究

本文对高庙子膨润土试样竖向膨胀应变时效性进行了试验和理论研究。首先,3种不同含水率的高庙子膨润土粉末被压实到2种不同干密度,然后保持试样含水率不变分别静置0、1、7、15、30和90天,最后利用膨胀变形仪对静置完成后的试样的水化膨胀变形进行了测量,试验结果表明:试样的水化膨胀曲线呈双曲线型,水化初期膨胀明显,之后逐渐稳定;竖向膨胀应变随初始干密度的增加而增大,与初始含水率关系不明显;最大竖向膨胀应变随静置时间的增长不断衰减,且静置前期衰减明显,后期趋于稳定;基于试验成果,通过类比,建立了压实膨润土的膨胀应变时效性经验模型,拟合结果表明该模型能够较好地反映静置时间对高庙子膨润土膨胀应变的影响。     

膨润土膨胀力时程曲线的形态特征及其模拟

为了研究膨润土膨胀力时程曲线的形态特征,采用恒体积法开展了不同干密度高庙子(GMZ)膨润土的膨胀力试验。试验结果表明,不同干密度高庙子膨润土的膨胀力时程曲线均呈典型的双峰形态：膨胀力先迅速增大至一个峰值,然后小幅回落或增速明显减小,随后再次升高并最终趋于稳定。膨胀力时程曲线的形态由膨胀力峰值、谷值、终值、峰值时间、谷值时间和终值时间等6个关键参数控制。在分析膨胀力形成机理及其发展规律的基础上,基于累积“楔”力与消散“楔”力相互叠加的原理,并假设累积“楔”力随水化时间呈指数分布,消散“楔”力随水化时间呈高斯分布,建立了一个膨胀力时程曲线的预测模型。该模型仅包含5个参数,均具有较明确的物理意义。根据试验结果和文献资料的验证结果表明,模型能够较好地模拟不同形态的膨胀力时程曲线。     

Swelling characteristics of Gaomiaozi bentonite and its prediction

Gaomiaozi （GMZ） bentonite has been chosen as a possible matrix material of buffers/backfills in the deep geological disposal to isolate the high-level radioactive waste （HLRW） in China. In the Gaomiaozi deposit area, calcium bentonite in the near surface zone and sodium bentonite in the deeper zone are observed. The swelling characteristics of GMZ sodium and calcium bentonites and their mixtures with sand wetted with distilled water were studied in the present work. The test results show that the relationship be- tween the void ratio and swelling pressure of compacted GMZ bentonite-sand mixtures at full saturation is independent of the initial conditions such as the initial dry density and water content, hut dependent on the ratio of bentonite to sand. An empirical method was accordingly proposed allowing the prediction of the swelling deformation and swelling pressure with different initial densities and bentonite-sand ratios when in saturated conditions. Finally, the swelling capacities of GMZ Na- and Ca-bentonites and Kunigel Na-bentonite are compared.     

Modelling the FEBEX THM experiment using a state surface approach

Buffer materials being considered as engineered barriers in nuclear fuel waste (NFW) disposal systems possess a pronounced nonlinear behaviour in the unsaturated state. In order to simulate such non-linear responses,the authors adopted an incrementally nonlinear poro-elastic approach where the coefficients of the governing equations are assumed to be functions of suction and the void ratio. These functions are in turn developed from a state-surface equation obtained from suction-controlled oedometric tests. In this paper we show the derivation of the governing equations of the poro-elastic model. A finite element computer code, FRACON, was developed by the authors to numerically solve the above equations. We first use the code to simulate laboratory tests to characterize the swelling properties of a typical bentonite. That same bentonite was used in the FEBEX in-situ heater experiment, conducted at the Grimsel site, Switzerland. The FRACON code was also used to perform blind predictions of the FEBEX heater experiment. It is shown that the model correctly predicts drying of the bentonite near the heaters and re-saturation near the rock interface. The evolution of temperature and the heater thermal output were also reasonably well predicted by the model. The trends in the total stresses developed in the bentonite were correctly predicted; the absolute values however were underestimated probably due to the omission of pore pressure build-up in the rock mass.     

高碱溶液对高庙子膨润土侵蚀作用的研究

采用NaOH溶液模拟高放射性核废物处置库中可能产生的高碱性孔隙水,对初始干密度为1.70 g/cm³的高庙子（GMZ）膨润土试样进行渗透侵蚀试验,借助扫描电镜（SEM）和透射电镜（TEM）对侵蚀后试样的表观特性进行观察分析,对碱溶液侵蚀对膨润土试样膨胀性、渗透性、孔隙比和化学成分的影响规律进行解释,以研究碱性孔隙水侵蚀对膨润土性能影响的微观机理。结果表明,GMZ膨润土主要成分蒙脱石呈层片状结构,蒙脱石水化会在其表面形成羽翼状的胶体,会堵塞试样的孔隙;高碱性溶液的侵蚀会造成膨润土水化产生的羽翼状胶体溶解和膨润土结构的不可逆性破坏,并且破坏程度与碱溶液的浓度成正相关关系;经高碱性溶液侵蚀的膨润土试样,其表面有明显的溶蚀痕迹,说明碱溶液的入渗侵蚀会造成膨润土有效成分蒙脱石的溶解,试验结果与X射线衍射（XRD）测试结果吻合。因此,碱性孔隙水的入渗侵蚀会逐渐溶解膨润土中的蒙脱石,破坏了膨润土的结构,增大了膨润土的孔隙率,进而降低了膨润土的膨胀性,提高了膨润土的长期渗透性,最终造成膨润土的封闭和缓冲性能降低。