The hydromechanical behaviour of the Boom Clay observed during excavation of the connecting gallery at Mol site

Xiang Ling Li, Wim Bastiaens, Frédéric Bernier

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    Boom Clay formation has been selected as a potential host rock for the geological disposal of radioactive wastes in Belgium. An Underground Research Facility (URF) in Boom Clay formation at a depth of about 223m at Mol site was built to investigate and demonstrate the feasibility of the disposal concepts and to provide reliable data on the performance of Boom Clay as a host rock. The URF was extended by sinking a second shaft and excavating a connecting gallery that provided a unique and original opportunity to monitor the hydromechanical responses of the Boom Clay ahead of the excavation front thanks to the instrumentation installed in-situ (CLIPEX program). The most important observation is the very extended excavation dis-turbed zone that cannot be replicated by a classical elasto-plastic constitutive law, which gave however reli-able predictions of instantaneous convergence in the near field. Further investigation is necessary to explain this extended disturbed zone, especially variation of pore water pressure in the far field.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationEUROCK 2006, Multiphysics coupling and long term behaviour in rock mechanics;
    Place of PublicationLondon, British Indian Ocean Territory
    Pages467-472
    Volume1
    StatePublished - 12 May 2006
    EventEUROCK 2006, Multiphysics coupling and long term behaviour in rock mechanics; - Belgian Rock mechanics society, Liège
    Duration: 9 May 200612 May 2006

    Publication series

    NameProceedings and Monographs in Engineering, Water and Earthe Sciences

    Conference

    ConferenceEUROCK 2006, Multiphysics coupling and long term behaviour in rock mechanics;
    Country/TerritoryBelgium
    CityLiège
    Period2006-05-092006-05-12

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