Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission CNSC

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Abstract The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) used the finite element code FRACON to perform blind predictions of the FEBEX heater experiment. The FRACON code numerically solves the extended equations of Biot s poro-elasticity. The rock was assumed to be linearly elastic, however, the poro-elastic coefficients of variably saturated bentonite were expressed as functions of net stress and void ratio using the state surface equation obtained from suction-controlled oedometer tests. In this paper, we will summarize our approach and predictive results for the Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical response of the bentonite. It is shown that the model correctly predicts drying of the bentonite near the heaters and re-saturation near the rock interface. The evolution of temperature and the heater thermal output were reasonably well predicted by the model. The trends in the total stresses developed in the bentonite were also correctly predicted, however the absolute values were underestimated probably due to the neglect of pore pressure build-up in the rock mass. 

The authors sincerely thank the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) for its financial support and ENRESA/UPC for providing experimental data from the FEBEX project. The opinion expressed in this paper is the authors and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the CNSC or McGill University. 

Hazama Corporation, Japan Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden Commissariat a I Energie Atomique (CEA), France ) Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), Canada Institut de Radioprotection et de Surete Nucleaire (IRSN), France Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), USA INERIS-LAEGO, France... 

CNSC, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, 2008. Design of New Nuclear Power Plants. CNSC Report RD-337. 

CNSC/OECD, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, 2014. In International Workshop on Multi-Unit ProbabiUstic Safety Assessment (PSA), Ottawa, Canada, November 17—20. 

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