Numerical analysis of thermal impact on hydro-mechanical properties of clay

As is known, high-level radioactive waste （HLW） is commonly heat-emitting. Heat output from HLWwilldissipate through the surrounding rocks and induce complex thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical（THMC） processes. In highly consolidated clayey rocks, thermal effects are particularly significantbecause of their very low permeability and water-saturated state. Thermal impact on the integrity of thegeological barriers is of most importance with regard to the long-term safety of repositories. This studyfocuses on numerical analysis of thermal effects on hydro-mechanical properties of clayey rock using acoupled thermo-mechanical multiphase flow （TH2M） model which is implemented in the finite elementprogramme OpenGeoSys （OGS）. The material properties of the numerical model are characterised by atransversal isotropic elastic model based on Hooke＇s law, a non-isothermal multiphase flow model basedon van Genuchten function and Darcy＇s law, and a transversal isotropic heat transport model based onFourier＇s law. In the numerical approaches, special attention has been paid to the thermal expansion ofthree different phases： gas, fluid and solid, which could induce changes in pore pressure and porosity.Furthermore, the strong swelling and shrinkage behaviours of clayey material are also considered in thepresent model. The model has been applied to simulate a laboratory heating experiment on claystone.The numerical model gives a satisfactory representation of the observed material behaviour in thelaboratory experiment. The comparison of the calculated results with the laboratory findings verifies thatthe simulation with the present numerical model could provide a deeper understanding of the observedeffects. 2014 Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Production and hosting byElsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Mechanical Properties and Solidified Mechanism of Tailings Mortar with Waste Glass

In order to improve the comprehensive utilization of solid waste such as iron tailings and waste glass and so on,mechanical property test of cement tailings mortar mixed waste glass and curing mechanism research were conducted in the key materials mechanics lab of Liaoning province.The experimental results show that adding waste glass particles can improve the grain size distribution of tailings.The effect is proportional to the content.The compressive strength of tailings mortar has increased significantly.The fineness modulus of tailings mortar mixture adding waste glass powder was gradually reducing with the increase of the dosage of waste glass powder,but the compressive strength of the mixture has gradually enhanced with the increase of the dosage.Microscopic analysis shows that the waste glass particles in the mortar mainly play a role of coarse aggregate and glass powder after grinding fine below a certain size shows strong volcanic activity,which can act hydration with tailings,at the same time glass powder also,plays a role in fine aggregate filling.Therefore,all of glass particles and glass powder can be used as the additive material for improving and optimizing the mechanical property of tailings mortar.