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Abstract:
The CNSC, the Canadian regulator for the nuclear industry, participated in DECOVALEX-2023 Task G that focuses
on the thermo (T) - hydro (H)- mechanical (M) behaviour of rock joints. Joints are omnipresent in rock
masses and are planes of weakness in the host rock. When deep geological repositories (DGRs) for radioactive
waste are being considered in areas where rock joints are present, the joints could be preferential pathways for
radionuclide migration. Therefore, their THM behaviour must be better understood to assess the safety of the
DGR. Under different possible internal and external perturbations, a joint can move by shear and dilation. If the
joint crosses the emplacement area of a waste container, the heat generated from the waste can itself induce
shearing of the joint. Excessive shear movement can in turn lead to failure of the container, resulting in earlier
release of radionuclides. Furthermore, dilation that might accompany shear, results in an increase in the joint
aperture creating a faster flow path for radionuclide transport. Mathematical models are important tools that
need to be developed and employed, in order to assess joint shear and dilation under different loading conditions,
such as the heat generated from the emplaced waste. The authors have developed such a mathematical model
based on a macroscopic formulation within the framework of elasto-plasticity. It is verified against analytical
solutions and validated against shear under constant normal load tests and thermal shearing tests of joints in
granite.
