BEACON

Bentonite mechanical evolution ( BEACON)

 

This project is dedicated to the management of ultimate nuclear waste. The overall objective of the project is to develop and test the tools necessary for the assessment of the hydro-mechanical evolution of an installed bentonite barrier and its resulting performance. One of the challenges is to take into account initial heterogeneities introduced in the system by conception. It will require a more detailed understanding of material properties, of the fundamental processes that lead to homogenisation, of the role of scale effects and improved capabilities for numerical modelling. Within the project, the Geomechanics group will improve and further develop his numerical Finite Element code Lagamine. The key issue is to be able to reproduce the swelling potential of the bentonite and its effect on its hydromechanical behavior. The numerical constitutive models currently are developed within WP3. The updated/newly developed models need to be tested and verified using available data (WP5). Many of the tests and experiments performed within previous EC projects and national programmes, will be used in the Beacon project. In parallel, an efficient experimental programme will support model development and testing (WP4).