Effective containment and disposal of high-level radioactive waste is critical to ensure long-term environmental and human safety. Especially bentonite, which is widely used as a buffer material due to its favorable characteristics such as swelling ability and low permeability, plays an important role in preventing the migration of radioactive waste into the surrounding environment. However, the long-term performance of bentonite buffer remains an area of ongoing investigation, with particular attention focused on erosion mechanisms induced by swelling and groundwater flow. The erosion of the bentonite buffer can significantly impact the integrity of buffer and lead to the formation of colloids, which could potentially facilitate the transport of radionuclides through groundwater. Therefore, quantification of bentonite buffer erosion based on an understanding of the underlying mechanisms and factors that influence bentonite buffer erosion, is essential for the safety assessment of high-level radioactive waste repositories. In this study, we aimed to develop a bentonite buffer erosion model using the Adaptive Processbased total system performance assessment framework for a geological disposal system (APro) proposed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). The impact of bentonite erosion on performance assessment can be broadly divided into bentonite property degradation by the penetration of the bentonite buffer into rock fractures and the formation of pseudocolloids. To simulate this phenomenon, Two-region model based on a dynamic bentonite diffusion model is adopted, which can quantify the extent of bentonite intrusion and loss by erosion. Using this Tworegion model, a numerical model was developed to simulate the degradation of bentonite properties based on the amount of bentonite intrusion, as well as to simulate the migration of pseudocolloids in the near-field by deriving the amount of pseudocolloid production based on the loss of bentonite and the sorption rate of radionuclides. To check the applicability of the developed numerical model, preliminary analysis was performed for the effect of bentonite erosion in terms of process-based performance assessment. It is anticipated that this comprehensive model developed in this study will contribute to the accurate and reliable assessment of the long-term performance and safety of high-level radioactive waste repositories.

The compacted bentonite buffer is a key component of the engineered barrier system in deep geological repositories for high-level radioactive waste disposal. Groundwater infiltration into the deep geological repository leads to the saturation of the bentonite buffer. Bentonite saturation results in bentonite swelling, gelation and intrusion into the nearby rock discontinuities within the excavation damaged zone of the adjacent rock mass. Groundwater flow can result in the erosion and transport of bentonite colloids, resulting in bentonite mass loss which can negatively impact the long-term integrity and safety of the overall engineered barrier system. The hydro -mechanicalchemical interactions between the buffer, surrounding host rock and groundwater influence the erosion characteristics of the bentonite buffer. Hence, assessing the critical hydro-mechanicalchemical factors that negatively affect bentonite erosion is crucial for the safety design of the deep geological repository. In this study, the effects of initial bentonite density, aperture, discontinuity angle and groundwater chemistry on the erosion characteristics of Bentonil WRK are investigated via bentonite extrusion and artificial fracture experiments. Both experiments examine bentonite swelling and intrusion into simulated rock discontinuities; cylindrical holes for bentonite extrusion experiments and plane surfaces for artificial fracture experiments. Compacted bentonite blocks and bentonite pellets are manufactured using a compaction press and granulation compactor respectively and installed in the transparent extrusion cells and artificial fracture cells. The reference test condition is set to be 1.6 g/cm3 dry density and saturation using distilled water. After distilled water or solution injection, the axial and radial expansion of the bentonite specimens into the simulated rock discontinuities are monitored for one month under free swelling conditions with no groundwater flow. Subsequent flow tests are conducted using the artificial fracture cell to determine the critical flow rate for bentonite erosion. The intrusion and erosion characteristics are modelled using a modified hydro-mechanicalchemical coupled dynamic bentonite diffusion model and a fluid-based hydro-mechanical penetration model.

This study investigates the behavior of bentonite, used as a buffer material in deep geological disposal systems, in the context of pore morphology under the influence of field-collected groundwater conditions. The bentonite was processed into block form using cold isostatic press (CIP) and subsequently analyzed for its pore morphology in situ using synchrotron X-ray computed tomography (CT) within the field-collected groundwater environment. Bentonite buffers play a critical role in deep geological disposal systems by preventing contact between disposal containers and groundwater. Bentonite typically exhibits swelling upon contact with water, forming few layers of water molecules between its structural layers. However, the presence of ions such as K+ and Cl- can lead to a sharp reduction in swelling pressure. Loss of swelling pressure could negatively impact the integrity of future deep geological disposal systems, making its assessment crucial. This study involves processing various types of bentonite, including natural Na-type bentonite, into block forms and subjecting them to exposure in both deionized water and field-collected groundwater conditions. Internal pore morphology changes were measured using Xray CT technology.

The concept of deep geological disposal for high-level radioactive waste is based on an engineered barrier system (EBS), including a canister, bentonite buffer and backfill material. The bentonite buffer is key component of the EBS to prevent groundwater infiltration and radionuclide leakage. However, the bentonite buffer can become saturated due to groundwater flow through the excavation damaged zone in the adjacent rock, causing erosion of bentonite buffer and affecting the long-term performance of EBS. While the RH (relative humidity) sensor is commonly used to assess the degree of saturation in the bentonite buffer, it has a critical challenge due to its sensor size, which can disturb the overall integrity of the bentonite buffer during the initial installation process. In contrasts, the electrical resistivity test, widely known as a non-destructive method, is used to predict soil properties such as the degree of saturation and water contents. This method measures the electric resistance of materials using electric current induced by electric potential difference between two electrodes. Notably, there is no study that assess the integrity of bentonite buffer in a nuclear waste repository using electrical resistivity measurement. This study presents the electrical resistance numerical module under steady state using commercial finite element method (FEM), and quantitatively estimate the change of electrical resistance according to saturation and erosion of bentonite buffer. Furthermore, the electric potential and current density distribution formed between two electrodes are analyzed.

In the design of HLW repositories, it is important to confirm the performance and safety of buffer materials at high temperatures. Most existing models for predicting hydraulic conductivity of bentonite buffer materials have been derived using the results of tests conducted below 100°C. However, they cannot be applied to temperatures above 100°C. This study suggests a prediction model for the hydraulic conductivity of bentonite buffer materials, valid at temperatures between 100°C and 125°C, based on different test results and values reported in literature. Among several factors, dry density and temperature were the most relevant to hydraulic conductivity and were used as important independent variables for the prediction model. The effect of temperature, which positively correlates with hydraulic conductivity, was greater than that of dry density, which negatively correlates with hydraulic conductivity. Finally, to enhance the prediction accuracy, a new parameter reflecting the effect of dry density and temperature was proposed and included in the final prediction model. Compared to the existing model, the predicted result of the final suggested model was closer to the measured values.

Bentonite is a widely used buffer material in high-level radioactive waste repositories due to its favorable properties, including its ability to swell and low permeability. Bentonite buffers play an important role in safe disposal by providing a low permeability barrier and preventing radionuclides migration into the surrounding rock. However, the long-term performance of the bentonite buffer is still an area of research, and one of the main concerns is the erosion of the buffer due to swelling and groundwater flow. Erosion of the bentonite buffer can have a significant impact on repository safety by reducing the integrity of the buffer and forming colloids that can transport radionuclides through groundwater, potentially increasing the risk of radionuclide migration. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms and factors that influence the erosion of the bentonite buffer is critical to the safety assessment of high-level radioactive waste repositories. In this study, we attempted to develop the bentonite buffer erosion model using Adaptive Processbased total system performance assessment framework for a geological disposal system (APro) proposed by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). First, the erosion phenomenon was divided into two stages: bentonite buffer penetration into rock fractures and colloid formation. As an initial step in the development of the buffer erosion model, a bentonite buffer intrusion into the fracture and consequent degradation of buffer property were considered. For this purpose, a tworegion model based on the dynamic bentonite diffusion model was adopted which is one of the methods for simulating bentonite buffer intrusion. And, it was assumed that the buffer properties, such as density, porosity and permeability, thermal conductivity, modulus of elasticity, and mechanical strength, are degraded as the buffer erodes. The bentonite buffer degradation model developed in this study will serve as a foundation for the comprehensive buffer erosion model, in conjunction with the colloidal formation model in the future.

The engineered barrier system (EBS) for deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste requires a buffer material that can prevent groundwater infiltration, protect the canister, dissipate decay heat effectively, and delay the transport of radioactive materials. To meet those stringent performance criteria, the buffer material is prepared as a compacted block with high-density using various press methods. However, crack and degradation induced by stress relaxation and moisture changes in the compacted bentonite blocks, which are manufactured according to the geometry of the disposal hole, can critically affect the performance of the buffer. Therefore, it is imperative to develop an adequate method for quality assessment of the compacted buffer block. Recently, several non-destructive testing methods, including elastic wave measurement technology, have been attempted to evaluate the quality and aging of various construction materials. In this study, we have evaluated the compressive wave velocity of compacted bentonite blocks via the ultrasonic velocity method (UVM) and free-free resonant column method (FFRC), and analyzed the relationship among compressive wave velocity, dry density, thermal conductivity, and strength parameter. We prepared compacted bentonite block specimens using the cold isostatic pressure (CIP) method under different water content and CIP pressure conditions. Based on multiple regression analysis, we suggest a prediction model for dry density in terms of manufacturing conditions. Additionally, we propose an empirical model to predict thermal conductivity and unconfined compressive strength based on compressive wave velocity. The database and suggested models in this study can contribute to the development of quality assessment and prediction techniques for compacted buffer blocks used in the construction of a disposal repository.

In the engineered barrier system of deep geological disposal repository, complex physicochemical phenomena occur throughout the entire disposal time, consequently impacting the safety function. The bentonite buffer, a significant component of the engineered barrier system, can be geochemically altered due to the changes in host rock groundwater, temperature, and redox condition. Such changes may have direct or indirect effects on radionuclide migration in case of canister failure. Therefore, a modeling tool that accounts for coupled thermal-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical (THMC) processes is necessary for the safety assessment. To this end, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has developed the APro, a modeling interface for conducting safety assessment of deep geological disposal repository. The APro considers coupled THMC processes that influence radionuclide migration. Here, the solute transport considering thermal and hydraulic processes are calculated using the COMSOL multi-physics, while geochemical reactions are carried out in PHREEQC. The two software are coupled using a sequential non-iterative operator splitting approach, and transport of non-water H, non-water O, and charge were additionally considered to enhance the coupling model stability. Finally, the applicability of APro to simulate long-term geochemical evolution of bentonite was demonstrated through benchmark studies to evaluate the effects of mineral precipitation/dissolution, temperature, redox, and seawater intrusion.

In order to reduce the area of the high-level radioactive waste (HLW) repository, a buffer material with high thermal conductivity is required. This is because if the thermal conductivity of the buffer material is high, the distance between the disposal tunnels and the deposition holes can be reduced. Sand, which is a natural material and has higher thermal conductivity than bentonite, is added to bentonite to develop an enhanced buffer material. For the sand-bentonite mixture, it is important which sand to use and how much to add because an enhanced buffer material should satisfy both hydraulic (H) and mechanical (M) performance criteria while improving thermal conductivity (T). In this study, we would like to show what type of sand and how much sand should be added to develop an enhanced buffer material by adding sand to Gyeongju bentonite, a representative bentonite in Korea. For this purpose, the thermal conductivity, hydraulic conductivity, and swelling pressure of the sand-Gyeongju bentonite mixture according to the sand addition rate were measured. It is more efficient to use silica sand with smaller particles than Jumunjin sand which is a representative sand in Korea as an additive for an enhanced buffer material than using the Jumunjin sand. In order for the sand-Gyeongju bentonite buffer material to satisfy both the hydraulic and mechanical performance criteria as a buffer material while increasing the thermal conductivity, it is judged that the optimum dry density is 1.7 g/cm3 at least and the optimum sand addition rate is 10% at most.

High level radioactive waste disposal repository is faced thermos-hydro-mechanical-radioactive condition. Factors according to these complex conditions are measured using multiple sensors installed in the disposal repository to check integrity of the structure. Wires of the sensors can be potential pathways of groundwater and nuclide flow and these pathways accelerates bentonite saturation. Therefore, it is worth to developing wireless sensors buried in the bentonite buffer which can communicate without wires. In start of the study, widely-utilized wireless communication methods including WiFi and LoRa are tested using compacted bentonite blocks to estimate the performance of them. Compacted bentonite blocks are prepaired using di-press method with metal molds and the dry density of them are about 1.6 g/cm3. All wireless communication methods are well communicated through the bentonite blocks over 50 cm. The further experimental tests will be conducted with different dry density and water contents. The results of these experimental tests give a possibility of wireless communications in compacted bentonite buffer and will be utilized for the design of wireless sensor systems for the repository monitoring.

Bentonite, which mostly consists of montmorillonite, is considered as a suitable buffer material for disposal of high-level radioactive wastes in deep geological repository due to its high swelling capacity, low permeability, and strong retention capacity of radionuclide migration. Alkaline and saline solutions originated from degradation of cementitious material and seawater intrusion, respectively, may cause the changes in mineralogical and chemical properties of montmorillonite with various processes such as cation exchange within the interlayer, dissolution of montmorillonite, and precipitation of second minerals. In this study, montmorillonite alteration under alkaline and saline environments and its influences on retention of cesium and iodide by bentonite buffer were investigated. The reactions of bentonite (Bentonil-WRK) with alkaline solutions (0.1 M KOH and NaOH) and simulated saline solution were performed for 7 days in batch experiments at 25°C. After the experiments, reacted bentonite samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Short Wavelength Infrared (SWIR) spectrometry. The concentrations of cesium and iodide dissolved in the solutions were analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP–MS). The XRD patterns showed significant decrease in the interlayer space of montmorillonite after the reaction with alkaline solution due to cation exchange and change in hydration status at the interlayer. The retention of cesium and iodide in alkaline and saline solutions were affected by montmorillonite alteration and ion competition. Therefore, the montmorillonite alteration affecting the nuclide retention capacity and long-term stability of bentonite buffer should be considered in the safety assessment of long-term geological disposal performance.

When a rapid groundwater inflow is introduced from the adjacent rock mass in the early stage of disposal, hydraulic pressure build-up occurs, which may cause piping erosion at the buffer material itself and the interface of the gap-filling material. Such piping erosion in compacted bentonite buffer via interaction between the buffer and the adjacent rock mass may deteriorate the performance of the buffer material. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the conditions and scenarios in which the piping phenomenon around the buffer material occurs for the long-term health of the repository. In this study, laboratory-scale experimental tests of piping erosion in buffer and interfacial rock was introduced. ø 100 mm × 200 mm height compacted bentonite specimens were placed in a cylindrical acetal cell, and the distilled water was continuously injected at a flow rate of 0.068 L/min using a dual syringe pump. The inflow of water was generated from the bottom and side cell of buffer material. During water injection, injected water pressure and amount were measured with visual observation. The results showed that the external saturation of buffer firstly occurs followed by piping crack generation along the wetting front. The additional piping channels were generated and merged with others. As the injection stopped, the swelling and self-sealing behavior of buffer material were observed. Moreover, X-ray CT scanning of the cell was conducted after the piping simulation to analyze the piping channels and saturation depth. The results highlight the piping erosion phenomenon mainly occurs due to the presence of a gap outside the buffer material. Further experimental cases is need to comprehensively understand piping phenomena in buffer material for assessing the long-term stability of underground radioactive waste disposal systems.

A compacted bentonite buffer is a major component of engineered barrier systems, which are designed for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste. In most countries, the target temperature required to maintain safe functioning is below 100°C. If the target temperature of the compacted bentonite buffer can be increased above 100°C, the disposal area can be dramatically reduced. To increase the target temperature of the buffer, it is necessary to investigate its properties at temperatures above 100°C. Although some studies have investigated thermal-hydraulic properties above 100°C, few have evaluated the water suction of compacted bentonite. This study addresses that knowledge gap by evaluating the water suction variation for compacted Korean bentonite in the 25–150°C range, with initial saturations of 0 and 0.22 under constant saturation conditions. We found that water suction decreased by 5–20% for a temperature increase of 100–150°C.

Extensive studies have been conducted on thermal conductivity of bentonite buffer materials, as it affects the safety performance of barriers engineered to contain high-level radioactive waste. Bentonite is composed of several minerals, and studies have shown that the difference in the thermal conductivity of bentonites is due to the variation in their mineral composition. However, the specific reasons contributing to the difference, especially with regard to the thermal conductivity of bentonites with similar mineral composition, have not been elucidated. Therefore, in this study, bentonites with significantly different thermal conductivities, but of similar mineral compositions, are investigated. Most bentonites contain more than 60% of montmorillonite. Therefore, it is believed that the exchangeable cations of montmorillonite could affect the thermal conductivity of bentonites. The effect of bentonite type was comparatively analyzed and was verified through the effective medium model for thermal conductivity. Our results show that Ca-type bentonites have a higher thermal conductivity than Na-type bentonites.