Evaluation of direct shear strength of compacted bentonite having pore-water pressure

Abstract

Safety of great deep repository design has been investigated for high-level radioactive waste disposal system in several countries such as Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden and Switzerland. The repository of the disposal is in most cases based on the concept of a multi-barrier system using the host rock barrier formation and a man-made barrier formation. The man-made barrier consists of high expansive bentonite. Thermal-hydro-mechanical behaviour simulation models were developed, including some parameters described by experimental works. The complex phenomena due to the transition into saturation and chemical reactions at the bentonite barrier system have been explained. This study focused on direct shear strength for compacted bentonite related to some factors induced by uncertainty problems such as hydration effect and pore-water pressure. Measured shear strength properties of compacted bentonite had been determined at high suction values. Also, it is clear that there is some influence of direct shear speed on direct shear strength both under unsaturated-saturated conditions. A modified direct shear apparatus was used in this study to observe changes in shear strength with increments of pore-water pressures.