Numerical Study of Sodium Bentonite Extrusion into a Planar Fracture

As a candidate buffer/backfill material for high-level radioactive waste geological repositories,bentonite has numerous favorable properties,such as low permeability,high expansibility,and a high sorption capacity for radionuclides.The radionuclide-isolating performance of a buffer is strongly influenced by its extrusion.In this studv.the bentonite extrusion process is explored:its basic mechanism can be considered free swelling of the bentonite.A 2D extrusion model of bentonite that is based on the ID free swelling model of bentonite is presented A numerical met.hod is proposed to investigate the extrusion process of Na-bentonite into fractures over time under no-seepage conditions based on the free swelling model.The infuences of the electrolvte concentration and dry density on the extrusion depth and mass of the bentonite are discussed,and the distribution of montmorillonite inside the bentonite is analysed.The rationale of the proposed bentonite extrusion model is then illustrated in.comparison with the results of the bentonite extrusion test.