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Description of work
Task 1: Laboratory tests
In preparation for the in-situ test, long term (up to 6 months) THM laboratory tests will be performed on samples which will simulate the thermal loading of lining materials in the area of the contact zone (concrete lining / compressive material/ host clay rock). The equipment allows the loading of samples by temperature of up to 100 °C during continuous saturation of the samples.
Task 2: In-situ experiment at Josef UEF (Mokrsko)
During input laboratory tests (first 6 months) a detailed work programme for the in-situ test will be prepared in co-operation with the other partners.
In the UEF Josef facility, a short horizontal gallery will be used. Within this gallery, the impact of thermal loadings on different types of concrete based lining will be studied. The lining will be heated using different thermal load.
Along the heater, different lining sections will be built consisting of different types: for example with or without compressble materials. The lining thickness will be about 200 mm, the length of loaded lining minimally 1000 mm (depending on the heater used). There will be some free space (gap) between the heater and the lining.
These experiments will be fully instrumented for continuous stress-strain and temperature measurements, especially at the lining interface. It will be very important to control the deformation of the lining especially axially. The behaviour of the “lining system” and its stability will be studied and the use of compressive material will be tested. During the dismantling of the experiment the rheological alteration of lining materials will be tested.
The experimental procedures will follow these basic steps:
Phase A: gradual increase of temperature
Phase B: long term constant temperature (up to 100oC)
Phase C: gradual decrease of temperature – cooling.
The Josef UEF is presently under construction. The underground area will be devoted to experimental purposes according to the time schedule, in September 2006. The start of the in-situ experiment is planned for the first semester 2007.
Implementation of all the tasks related to WP4.3: in situ test at Mokrsko URL ( the Josef underground facility) in the
Czech Republic is subject to official granting of the necessary autorisations by the appropriate authorities as well as the effective entry into operation and transfer of the said facility to the Czech Technical University in Prague. Should these requirements not be fulfilled by 01 /03 /2007 the task would be cancelled. In this instance the test will be performed at the underground silo at the CEG laboratory.
The objectives will remain the same even if it is performed in the underground silo in the laboratory. Only the real soil/structure interaction will not be possible to investigate.
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