In the deep geological disposal repository of high-level radioactive waste,buffer/backfill materials typically consist of compacted bentonite block and granular bentonite.As these materials undergo a long-term hydrati...In the deep geological disposal repository of high-level radioactive waste,buffer/backfill materials typically consist of compacted bentonite block and granular bentonite.As these materials undergo a long-term hydration,it is anticipated that the two forms of bentonite materials(i.e.compacted bentonite powder(CBP)and granular bentonite(GB))are expected to exhibit differing hydro-mechanical behaviors due to the differences in their structures.This work aims to investigate the differences in swelling pressure and compressibility through a series of swelling pressure tests,compression tests and mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP)tests.The experimental results demonstrated that swelling pressure curves of the CBP specimens showed higher first peak values and more pronounced collapse than those of the GB specimens at a given dry density,regardless of vapor-water hydration or liquid-water hydration.The final swelling pressures of the two materials were similar at the same dry density,suggesting an independent correlation between swelling pressure and dry density.At the high suction range,the compression curves exhibited an obvious bi-linear pattern for the CBP specimens and a significant nonlinearity for the GB specimens.Meanwhile,the CBP specimens presented higher pre-consolidation pressures and larger compression indices than the GB specimens at a given suction.As suction decreased,the compression curves of the two materials gradually approached each other and their differences were reduced accordingly.After reaching saturation,a good consistency between them was observed whether for final swelling pressure or compressibility.Pore structure analysis revealed that the two materials both presented an initially double structure,and their differences were primarily manifested at the macrostructural level.Eventually,the differences in swelling pressure or compression curves of the two materials were well interpreted by combining microstructural evolutions.展开更多
Understanding the mechanisms of gas transport and the resulting preferential pathways formation through bentonite-based barriers is essential for their performance evaluation.In this experimental study,gas migration w...Understanding the mechanisms of gas transport and the resulting preferential pathways formation through bentonite-based barriers is essential for their performance evaluation.In this experimental study,gas migration within a heterogenous mixture of MX80 bentonite pellets and powder with a ratio of 80/20 in dry mass was investigated.A novel X-ray transparent constant volume cell has been developed to assess the effect of gas pressure,material heterogeneities,and water vapor gas saturation on breakthrough pressure and gas pathways.The new cell allows to perform high-resolution X-ray computed micro-tomography(X-ray μCT)scans to track microstructural changes during different phases of saturation and gas injection.Experimental results showed that the gas breakthrough occurred when the pressure was raised to 3 MPa.This is slightly higher than the expected swelling pressure(2.9 MPa)of the bentonite sample.Each gas injection was followed by a long resaturation phase restoring material homogeneity at μCT resolution scale(16 mm).However,the elapsed time needed for gas to breakthrough at 3 MPa diminished at each subsequent injection test.X-ray μCT results also revealed the opening of the specimen/cell wall interface during gas passage.This opening expanded as the injection pressure increased.The gas flow along the interface was associated with the development of dilatant pathways inside the sample,although they did not reach the outlet surface.It was observed that the water vapor gas saturation had no effect on the breakthrough pressure.These findings enhance the understanding of the complex mechanisms underlying microstructural evolution and gas pathway development within the highly heterogeneous mixture.The experimental outcomes highlight the effectiveness of X-ray μCT to improve quality protocols for engineering design and safety assessments of engineered barriers.展开更多
Bentonite is a very useful material for improving soil properties,which enhances the ability of plants to grow and produce in different conditions.The experiment was carried out in an agricultural nursery in one of th...Bentonite is a very useful material for improving soil properties,which enhances the ability of plants to grow and produce in different conditions.The experiment was carried out in an agricultural nursery in one of the areas of the City of Diwaniyah,in a house covered with green netting,with a shade rate of 25%,to study the effect of bentonite and humic acid on the growth and flowering of a Catharanthus roseus L.plant in sandy soil.The experiment included two factors:the first factor was bentonite clay,and the second factor was humic acid.Using a randomized complete block design(R.C.B.D)with three replications,data were analyzed using the analysis of variance(ANOVA)method,and comparison was made according to the least significant difference(L.S.D)test at a probability level of 0.05.The experiment consisted of adding bentonite clay at 0,2,6,and 8 g L-1,humic acid at 0,0.5,1,and 10 g L-1.The results showed that adding bentonite clay and humic acid to sandy soil can have a significant positive effect on the growth and flowering of the Catharanthus roseus plant grown in poor sandy soil conditions.Bentonite,clay and humic acid were added at concentrations of 8 and 10 g L-1,which led to an increase in plant height and number of leaves and leaf area.They reached 30.07,23.84 cm2,76.62,63.42 cm2 for leaf-1 and 24.73,20.22 cm2 for leaf-1,respectively.The results also showed an increase in the content of nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P),and potassium(K)in leaves by 2.27,1.92,1.99%and 1.51,1.22,1.77%.This also led to an increase in chlorophyll pigment and anthocyanin at the highest concentration and gave the highest value.Therefore,adding bentonite and humic acid together gave the highest values in vegetative and chemical characteristics,compared to treatments without addition.展开更多
Predicting the gas diffusion coefficient of water-saturated Na-bentonite is crucial for the overall performance of the geological repository for isolating high-level radioactive waste(HLW).In this study,a conceptual m...Predicting the gas diffusion coefficient of water-saturated Na-bentonite is crucial for the overall performance of the geological repository for isolating high-level radioactive waste(HLW).In this study,a conceptual model that incorporates a multi-porosity system was proposed,dividing the pore space into free water pores,interlayer water pores,and diffuse double layer(DDL)water pores,to describe the molecular diffusion behaviour of the dissolved gas in saturated bentonite.In this model,gas diffusion in these three porosities is considered as independent and parallel processes.The apparent gas diffusion coefficient is quantified by applying weighted approximations that consider the specific porosity,tortuosity factor,and constrictivity factor within each porosity domain.For verification,experimental data from gas diffusion tests on saturated MX-80 and Kunipia-F bentonite specimens across a wide range of dry densities were utilized.The proposed model could successfully capture the overall trend of the apparent gas diffusion coefficient for bentonite materials across the partial dry density of montmorillonite ranging from 900 kg/m^(3)to 1820 kg/m^(3),by employing only one fitting parameter of the scaling factor.When the partial dry density of montmorillonite decreased to 800 kg/m^(3),the proposed model shows an underestimation of the apparent gas diffusion coefficient due to possible changes of the tortuosity factor.Model predictions indicate that gas diffusion in saturated bentonite is primarily controlled by the free pore domain,with minimal contributions from DDL pores.Despite being the dominant pore type,interlayer pores contribute limitedly to total Da/Dw values due to significant constrictivity effects.展开更多
Wet flue gas desulfurization(WFGD)could effectively reduce sulfur dioxide emission.However,magnesium sulfite(MgSO_(3)),a by-product of desulfurization,was easy to result in secondary pollution.In this study,the solid ...Wet flue gas desulfurization(WFGD)could effectively reduce sulfur dioxide emission.However,magnesium sulfite(MgSO_(3)),a by-product of desulfurization,was easy to result in secondary pollution.In this study,the solid catalyst Co-Bent(bentonite supported cobalt)was prepared by blending method for MgSO_(3) oxidation with bentonite as the carrier and cobalt as the active component.At the calcination temperature of 550℃ and the Co loading level of 3 wt.%,the catalyst showed excellent catalytic performance for the oxidation of high concentration MgSO_(3) slurry,and the oxidation rate of MgSO_(3) was 0.13 mol/(L·h).The research indicated that the active component was uniformly distributed within porous structure of the catalyst as Co_(3)O_(4),which facilitated the oxidation of SO_(3)^(2-) catalyzed by Co_(3)O_(4).Kinetic researches indicated the oxidation rate of MgSO_(3) was influenced by the catalyst dosage,the reaction temperature,the solution pH,the airflow rate,and the SO_(3)^(2-) concentration.Additionally,after recycling experiments,the regenerated catalyst retained its high catalytic performance for the MgSO_(3) oxidation.The reaction mechanism for the catalytic oxidation of MgSO_(3) by Co-Bent catalyst was also proposed.The generation of active free radicals(OH·,SO_(4)^(-)·,SO_(3)^(-)·,SO_(5)^(-)·)accelerated the MgSO_(3) oxidation.These results provide theoretical support for the treatment of MgSO_(3) and the development of durable catalyst.展开更多
Understanding the effects of temperature on the hydro-mechanical behavior of compacted bentonite is important for performance assessments of bentonitebased buffer,backfill,and sealing systems in deep geological dispos...Understanding the effects of temperature on the hydro-mechanical behavior of compacted bentonite is important for performance assessments of bentonitebased buffer,backfill,and sealing systems in deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive wastes.Motivated by such applications,most past experimental studies were focused on highly compacted and high-quality bentonite.Such degrees of dry densities may not be economically or technically feasible for other emerging applications,including as an alternative material to cement in plugging and abandonment of wells.A bespoke high-pressure high-temperature constant rate of strain(CRS)apparatus was developed for the work reported here to conduct a series of tests for evaluating the hydro-mechanical response of compacted bentonite to elevated temperatures.Experiments were performed with bentonite specimens with high impurity contents at a range of dry densities(1.1,1.4,and 1.7 Mg/m^(3))and temperatures between 20 and 80℃.The results show that temperature increase leads to the decrease of swelling pressure for all studied densities.Larger reductions of swelling pressure were observed with increasing dry densities,suggesting the possibility of a larger exchange of pore water in the microstructure system of the clay.The transfer of water from micropores to macropores at elevated temperatures is shown to be a key controlling process at high-density compacted bentonite by which temperature affects the swelling pressure and hydraulic conductivity.展开更多
Flexible wearable electronic devices based on hydrogels have immense potential in a wide range of applications.However,many existing strain sensors suffer from significant limitations including poor mechanical propert...Flexible wearable electronic devices based on hydrogels have immense potential in a wide range of applications.However,many existing strain sensors suffer from significant limitations including poor mechanical properties,low adhesion,and insufficient conductivity.To address these challenges,this study successfully developed an organic-inorganic double-network conductive hydrogel using acrylic-modified bentonite (AABT) as a key component.The incorporation of AABT significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of the ATHG@LiCl hydrogel,achieving an impressive stretchability of 4000% and tensile strength of 250 kPa.Moreover,it improved the electrical conductivity of the hydrogel to a maximum of 1.53 mS/cm.The catechol structure of tannic acid (TA) further augmented the adhesive properties of the ATHG@LiCl hydrogel toward various substrates such as copper,iron,glass,plastic,wood,and pigskin.The addition of lithium chloride (LiCl) and dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) endowed the hydrogel with exceptional freezing resistance and flexibility,even at low temperatures of-20℃.Remarkably,the hydrogel maintained a conductivity of 0.53 mS/cm under these conditions,surpassing the performance of many other reported hydrogels.Furthermore,the ATHG@LiCl hydrogel demonstrated outstanding characteristics,such as high sensitivity (gauge factor GF=4.50),excellent transparency (90%),and reliable strain-sensing capabilities,indicating that the ATHG@LiCl hydrogel is a highly promising candidate for flexible wearable soft materials,offering significant advancements in both functionality and performance.展开更多
Deep geological repository is typically situated at depths ranging from several hundred to 1000 m below ground,making bentonite engineered barrier potentially vulnerable to high water pressure and even inducing hydrau...Deep geological repository is typically situated at depths ranging from several hundred to 1000 m below ground,making bentonite engineered barrier potentially vulnerable to high water pressure and even inducing hydraulic fracturing.This study conducted injection tests on compacted GMZ(Gaomiaozi)bentonite with a self-developed visualization set-up.The objective was to unveil the roles of dry density,water content,and pressurization rate in hydraulic fracturing from the perspective of fracturing macromorphological dynamics and breakthrough characteristics.Moreover,the relationships between breakthrough characteristics and microstructure were examined by MIP(mercury intrusion porosimetry)analysis.Results showed that the fracturing dynamics were characterized by three stages:hydration,cracking,and fracturing stages.Compared to water content and pressurization rate,dry density exerted more pronounced effects on these stages.Increasing dry density can lead to an expansion of circular hydration zone,a more complex cracking network,and a change in fracturing patterns from long and clear to short and fuzzy.In terms of breakthrough characteristics,the breakthrough pressure was positively correlated with dry density and negatively correlated with water content.Interestingly,there is a good and unique logarithmic correlation between the breakthrough pressure and the ratio eM/em of inter-aggregate void ratio and intra-aggregate void ratio,regardless of dry density and water content.Within a certain range(i.e.200-50 kPa/min),breakthrough pressure showed slight dependency on pressurization rate.Nevertheless,an extremely low pressurization rate of 20 kPa/min caused a transition for the specimen from quasi-brittle to plastic state owning to more water infiltration,thereby hindering fracture initiation and propagation.展开更多
Buffer material and metal disposal containers are the key engineering barriers in the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste.The durability of disposal containers largely depends on the water con-tent in ...Buffer material and metal disposal containers are the key engineering barriers in the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste.The durability of disposal containers largely depends on the water con-tent in buffer material.This work focused on investigating the corrosion evolution of NiCu low alloy steel in compacted GMZ bentonite with different water contents for 270 d by using weight loss,electrochemi-cal measurements,and various methods for analyzing corrosion products.As the water content increased from 13%to 20%,the water in the bentonite transformed from an unsaturated to a critical saturated state,and the corrosion rate of NiCu steel clearly increased.In these two systems,the oxygen could mi-grate to the thin liquid film on the steel surface through the air pores in the bentonite in the gas phase and undergo cathodic reduction.Meanwhile,it oxidized the ferrous hydrolysis products into ferric corro-sion products and formed a rust layer,which could block the diffusion of oxygen.At that moment,the cathodic process of NiCu steel corrosion changed to rust reduction.When the water content continually increased to 30%and 40%,the compacted bentonite was in a saturation state,and the corrosion rate of NiCu steel was significantly decreased.This was because most pores among the bentonite particles were occupied by a large amount of free water,which hindered the diffusion of oxygen and inhibited its cathodic reduction.Furthermore,it restrained the oxidation of ferrous corrosion products,which greatly weakened the cathodic depolarization of rust,leading to the cathodic process being dominated by the hydrogen evolution reaction.展开更多
Investigation of thermal effects on the strain rate-dependent properties of compacted bentonite is crucial for the long-term safety assessment of deep geological repository for disposal of high-level radioactive waste...Investigation of thermal effects on the strain rate-dependent properties of compacted bentonite is crucial for the long-term safety assessment of deep geological repository for disposal of high-level radioactive waste.In the present work,cylindrical GMZ01 bentonite specimens were compacted with suction-controlled by the vapor equilibrium technique.Then,a series of temperature-and suction-controlled stepwise constant rate of strain(CRS)tests was performed and the rate-dependent compressibility behavior of the highly compacted GMZ01 bentonite was investigated.The plastic compressibility parameterλ,the elastic compressibility parameterκ,the yield stress p0,as well as the viscous parameterαwere determined.Results indicate thatλ,κandαdecrease and p0 increases as suction increases.Upon heating,parametersλ,αand p0 decrease.It is also found that p0 increases linearly with increasing CRS in a double-logarithm coordinate.Based on the experimental results,a viscosity parameterα(s,T)was fitted to capture the effects of suction s and temperature T on the relationship between yield stress and strain rate.Then,an elastic-thermo-viscoplastic model for unsaturated soils was developed to describe the thermal effects on the rate-dependent behavior of highly compacted GMZ01 bentonite.Validation showed that the calculated results agreed well to the measured ones.展开更多
Colloids are prevalent in nuclear waste repositories,with bentonite colloids posing an uncontrollable risk factor for nuclide migration processes.In this study,static adsorption experiments were coupled with dynamic s...Colloids are prevalent in nuclear waste repositories,with bentonite colloids posing an uncontrollable risk factor for nuclide migration processes.In this study,static adsorption experiments were coupled with dynamic shower experiments to comprehensively investigate the influence of bentonite colloids on Sr^(2+)migration in granite,considering adsorption capacity.Bentonite colloids have a considerably greater adsorption capacity than both bentonite and granite,with a maximum adsorption of 30.303 mg/g.The adsorption behavior of bentonite colloids on Sr^(2+)is well described by the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models,indicating that a single-layer chemical adsorption process is controlled by the site activation energy.The adsorbed Sr^(2+)is unevenly distributed on the colloids,and the adsorption mechanism may involve ion exchange with Ca.Bentonite colloids exhibit superior adsorption in neutral environments.The cations in groundwater inhibit Sr^(2+)adsorption,and the inhibition efficacy decreases in the order Fe^(3+)>Ca^(2+)>Mg^(2+)>K^(+).The presence of bentonite colloids in a granite column slightly influences the retention of Sr^(2+)in the column while markedly reducing the Sr^(2+)penetration time from 70 h to 18 h.However,the coexistence of Co^(2+),Ni^(2+),and Cs^(+)in a multinuclide system weakens the ability of the colloids to promote Sr^(2+)migration.In comigration of colloid and multinuclide systems,the adsorption of nuclides by bentonite colloids causes the nuclide migration speed to decrease in the order Sr^(2+)>Cs^(+)>Ni^(2+)>Co^(2+).This study provides insights into Sr^(2+)migration in cave repositories for low-and medium-level radioactive waste.展开更多
Predicting the gas breakthrough pressure of saturated compacted bentonite is crucial for ensuring the long-term safe operation of deep geological repositories for the disposal of high-level radioactive nuclear wastes....Predicting the gas breakthrough pressure of saturated compacted bentonite is crucial for ensuring the long-term safe operation of deep geological repositories for the disposal of high-level radioactive nuclear wastes.In this work,the swelling pressure,water injection,gas injection and mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP)tests on saturated compacted Gaomiaozi(GMZ)bentonite specimens with a dry density of 1.3 Mg/m^(3),1.4 Mg/m^(3),1.5 Mg/m^(3),1.6 Mg/m^(3) and 1.7 Mg/m^(3) were conducted.Subsequently,the relationships between the swelling pressure and average inter-particle distance,as well as between the gas entry pressure and the maximum effective pore size were analyzed and established.Considering that gas migration and breakthrough are all closely related to the pore structures of the tested geomaterials,a novel gas breakthrough pressure prediction model based on the pore size distribution(PSD)curve was constructed using an existing prediction model based on gas entry pressure and swelling pressure.Finally,based on the test results of the specimens 1.5 Mg/m^(3),1.6 Mg/m^(3) and 1.7 Mg/m^(3),gas breakthrough pressures of the specimens with dry densities of 1.3 Mg/m^(3) and 1.4 Mg/m^(3) were predicted.The results show that the calculated gas breakthrough pressures of 0.76 MPa and 1.28 MPa are very close to the measured values of 0.80 MPa and 1.30 MPa,validating the accuracy of the proposed model.展开更多
This paper presents a method for obtaining the displacement of sand particles in a sand–bentonite mixture(SBM)when saturated with water,based on particle tracking velocimetry(PTV).The raw photographs were first conve...This paper presents a method for obtaining the displacement of sand particles in a sand–bentonite mixture(SBM)when saturated with water,based on particle tracking velocimetry(PTV).The raw photographs were first converted into binary images.The sand particles were then detected,and the displacement of the sand particles was obtained by comparing their positions in adjacent images.The swelling strain induced by saturation was also obtained using the proposed PTV method.This method was validated by comparing the result with those obtained using a displacement transducer.Subsequently,a comparative analysis of sand particle displacements was conducted for specimens with varying bentonite content(BC),initial thickness,and water infiltration directions.The experimental results obtained were as follows:(1)For specimens with different BCs,local swelling displacement of sand particles at the top part of the specimen increased with higher BCs;(2)For specimens with various heights(hsp),larger local swelling displacement was generated at lower hsp at the initial state;(3)Local swelling characteristics differed in different water infiltration directions.Top-side infiltration showed a significant downward movement of particles during the first several hours of swelling.An estimation method for the dry density distribution of the specimen was proposed based on PTV data and then verified by slicing dry density and water content measurement results.展开更多
The corrosion of waste canisters in the deep geological disposal facilities(GDFs)for high-level radioactive waste(HLRW)can generate gas,which escapes from the engineered barrier system through the interfaces between t...The corrosion of waste canisters in the deep geological disposal facilities(GDFs)for high-level radioactive waste(HLRW)can generate gas,which escapes from the engineered barrier system through the interfaces between the bentonite buffer blocks and the host rock and those between the bentonite blocks.In this study,a series of water infiltration and gas breakthrough experiments were conducted on granite and on granite-bentonite specimens with smooth and grooved interfaces.On this basis,this study presents new insights and a quantitative assessment of the impact of the interface between clay and host rock on gas transport.As the results show,the water permeability values from water infiltration tests on granite and granite-bentonite samples(10−19-10−20m^(2))are found to be slightly higher than that of bentonite.The gas permeability of the mock-up samples with smooth interfaces is one order of magnitude larger than that of the mock-up with grooved interfaces.The gas results of breakthrough pressures for the granite and the granite-bentonite mock-up samples are significantly lower than that of bentonite.The results highlight the potential existence of preferential gas migration channels between the rock and bentonite buffer that require further considerations in safety assessment.展开更多
In high-level nuclear waste(HLW)repositories,concrete and compacted bentonite are designed to be employed as buffer materials,which may raise a problem of interactions between concrete and bentonite.These interactions...In high-level nuclear waste(HLW)repositories,concrete and compacted bentonite are designed to be employed as buffer materials,which may raise a problem of interactions between concrete and bentonite.These interactions would lead to mineralogy transformation and buffer performance decay of bentonite under the near field environment conditions in a repository.A small-scale experimental setup was established to simulate the concrete-bentonite-site water interaction system from a potential nuclear waste repository in China.Three types of mortars were prepared to correspond to the concrete at different degradation states.The results permit the determination of the following:(1)The macroproperties of Gaomiaozi(GMZ)bentonite(e.g.swelling pressure,permeability,the final dry density,and water content of reacted samples);(2)The composition evolution of fluids from the synthetic site water-concrete-bentonite interaction systems;(3)The sample characterization including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)and X-ray powder diffraction(XRD).Under the infiltration of the synthesis Beishan site water(BSW),the swelling pressure of bentonite decreases slowly with time after reaching its second swelling peak.The flux decreases with time during the infiltrations,and it tends to be stable after more than 120 d.Due to the cation exchange reactions in the BSW-concrete-bentonite systems,the divalent cations(Ca and Mg)were consumed,and the monovalent cations(Na and K)were released.The dissolution of minerals in the bentonite such as albite causes Si increasing in the pore water.It was concluded that the hydro-mechanical property degradation of bentonite takes place when it comes into contact with concrete mortar,even under low-pH groundwater conditions.The soil dispersion,the uneven water content,and the uneven dry density in bentonite samples may partly contribute to the swelling decay of bentonite.Therefore,the direct contact with concrete has an obvious effect on the performance of bentonite.展开更多
Experiments were conducted to evaluate the healing of drying cracks in air-dried bentonite-sand blocks after hydration and swelling in groundwater,providing justifications to simplify the protection of blocks prior to...Experiments were conducted to evaluate the healing of drying cracks in air-dried bentonite-sand blocks after hydration and swelling in groundwater,providing justifications to simplify the protection of blocks prior to installation in a high-level radioactive waste repository.Synthetic groundwater was prepared to represent the geochemistry of Beishan groundwater,and was used to hydrate the blocks during the swelling pressure and swelling strain measurements,as Beishan is the most promising site for China's repository.Healing of the surface cracks was recorded by photography,and healing of the internal cracks was visualized by CT images and hydraulic conductivity of air-dried blocks.The results indicate that the maximum swelling pressure and swelling strain are primarily affected by the geochemistry of Beishan groundwater,but not affected by the drying cracks.The maximum swelling pressure and swelling strain of air-dried blocks are comparable to or even higher than the pressure and strain of fresh blocks.The maximum swelling pressure measured in strong(i.e.high ion strength)Beishan groundwater was 44%of the pressure measured in deionized(DI)water,and the maximum swelling strain was reduced to 23%of the strain measured in DI water.Nevertheless,the remained swelling of the blocks hydrated in strong Beishan groundwater was sufficient to heal the surface and internal drying cracks,as demonstrated by the pictures of surface cracks and CT images.The hydraulic conductivity of the air-dried block permeated with strong groundwater was comparable(3.7×higher)to the hydraulic conductivity of the fresh block,indicating the self-healing of drying cracks after hydration and swelling in groundwater.A simplified method of protecting the block with plastic wraps before installation is recommended,since the remained swelling of the block hydrated in Beishan groundwater is sufficient to heal the drying cracks.展开更多
Both the chemical compositions and performance characteristics of the bentonite raw ores in Ezhou area of Hubei province and Honghuoshan area of Liaoning of these two kinds of bentonites were tested before and provinc...Both the chemical compositions and performance characteristics of the bentonite raw ores in Ezhou area of Hubei province and Honghuoshan area of Liaoning of these two kinds of bentonites were tested before and province were compared and analyzed. The properties after Na^＋- and Li^＋-modification. The results show that the Ezhou bentonite ore possesses higher montmorillonite content than the Honghuoshan bentonite ore, but the Ezhou Na-bentonite has weaker castability （e.g. wet compression strength and hot wet tensile strength） than the Honghuoshan Na-bentonite, while the performance of Ezhou Li-bentonite, such as colloid index, swelling value, swelling volume and mould coating performance, is equivalent to that of the Honghuoshan Na-bentonite.展开更多
The requisite functions of a bentonite buffer in a deep geological repository depend on the sealing/healing of bentonite interfaces,with particular emphasis on the self-healing(automatic healing upon wetting)of assemb...The requisite functions of a bentonite buffer in a deep geological repository depend on the sealing/healing of bentonite interfaces,with particular emphasis on the self-healing(automatic healing upon wetting)of assembled bentonite-bentonite interfaces.This study determined the shear resistance(including the peak shear strength and secant modulus)of densely compacted Gaomiaozi(GMZ)bentonite and its assembled interface after confined water saturation.The effect of bentonite dry density and saturation time on the shear resistance of saturated healed interfaces was elucidated,and the interfacial self-healing capacity was assessed.The results indicate that the shear resistance of the saturated healed interfaces increased with the bentonite dry density but had a non-monotonic correlation with the saturation time.For a given dry density of the bentonite,the saturated healed interface exhibits a lower peak shear strength than the saturated intact bentonite but a higher peak shear strength than the saturated separated interface.The saturated healed and separated interfaces have comparable shear moduli(secant moduli),which are lower than that of the saturated intact bentonite.The saturated healed interfaces display smooth shear failure planes,while the saturated assembled interfaces and intact bentonite exhibit comparable frictional angles.This indicates that interfacial self-healing plays a pivotal role in enhancing interfacial peak shear strength by facilitating microstructural bonding at the assembled interface.Finally,it can be stated that densely compacted GMZ bentonite has a robust interfacial self-healing capacity in terms of shear resistance.These findings contribute to the design of the bentonite buffer and facilitate the evaluation of its safe operation at specified disposal ages.展开更多
Fluorographene(FG)with narrow lateral size and thickness distributions was prepared by a liquid-phase exfoliation method,based on liquid cascade centrifugation.The Rtec MFT-5000 tribo-meter was used to investigate the...Fluorographene(FG)with narrow lateral size and thickness distributions was prepared by a liquid-phase exfoliation method,based on liquid cascade centrifugation.The Rtec MFT-5000 tribo-meter was used to investigate the lubricating performance of bentonite grease enhanced by the as-prepared FG.The results showed that the coefficient of friction and the wear volume of bentonite grease with 0.3 wt%FG were decreased by 20.4%and 44.9%,respectively,as compared to those of the base grease.The main reason is that FG can promote the formation of the tribo-chemical reaction film consisting of complex carbon oxide,Fe_(2)O_(3)and FeF_(3)on the friction surface,which can remarkably improve the performance of friction reduction and prevent the appearance of severe wear.展开更多
In the high-level radioactive waste(HLW)deep geological repository,bentonite is compacted uniaxially,and then arranged vertically in engineered barriers.The assembly scheme induces the initial anisotropy,and with hydr...In the high-level radioactive waste(HLW)deep geological repository,bentonite is compacted uniaxially,and then arranged vertically in engineered barriers.The assembly scheme induces the initial anisotropy,and with hydration,it develops more evidently under chemical conditions.To investigate the anisotropic swelling of compacted Gaomiaozi(GMZ)bentonite and the further response to saline effects,a series of constant-volume swelling pressure tests were performed.Results showed that dry density enhanced the bentonite swelling and raised the final anisotropy,whereas saline inhibited the bentonite swelling but still promoted the final anisotropy.The final anisotropy coefficient(ratio of radial to axial pressure)obeyed the Boltzmann sigmoid attenuation function,decreasing with concentration and dry density,converging to a minimum value of 0.76.The staged evolution of anisotropy coefficient was discovered,that saline inhibited the rise of the anisotropy coefficient(Dd)in the isotropic process greater than the valley(d1)in the anisotropic process,leading to the final anisotropy increasing.The isotropic stage amplified the impact of soil structure rearrangement on the macro-swelling pressure values.Thus,a new method for predicting swelling pressures of compacted bentonite was proposed,by expanding the equations of Gouy-Chapman theory with a dissipative wedge term.An evolutionary function was constructed,revealing the correlation between the occurrence time and the pressure value due to the structure rearrangement and the former crystalline swelling.Accordingly,a design reference for dry density was given,based on the chemical conditions around the pre-site in Beishan,China.The anisotropy promoted by saline would cause a greater drop of radial pressure,making the previous threshold on axial swelling fail.展开更多
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42207227)the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,China(Grant No.2022JJ40586)The authors also thank the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant Nos.2022M722428).
文摘In the deep geological disposal repository of high-level radioactive waste,buffer/backfill materials typically consist of compacted bentonite block and granular bentonite.As these materials undergo a long-term hydration,it is anticipated that the two forms of bentonite materials(i.e.compacted bentonite powder(CBP)and granular bentonite(GB))are expected to exhibit differing hydro-mechanical behaviors due to the differences in their structures.This work aims to investigate the differences in swelling pressure and compressibility through a series of swelling pressure tests,compression tests and mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP)tests.The experimental results demonstrated that swelling pressure curves of the CBP specimens showed higher first peak values and more pronounced collapse than those of the GB specimens at a given dry density,regardless of vapor-water hydration or liquid-water hydration.The final swelling pressures of the two materials were similar at the same dry density,suggesting an independent correlation between swelling pressure and dry density.At the high suction range,the compression curves exhibited an obvious bi-linear pattern for the CBP specimens and a significant nonlinearity for the GB specimens.Meanwhile,the CBP specimens presented higher pre-consolidation pressures and larger compression indices than the GB specimens at a given suction.As suction decreased,the compression curves of the two materials gradually approached each other and their differences were reduced accordingly.After reaching saturation,a good consistency between them was observed whether for final swelling pressure or compressibility.Pore structure analysis revealed that the two materials both presented an initially double structure,and their differences were primarily manifested at the macrostructural level.Eventually,the differences in swelling pressure or compression curves of the two materials were well interpreted by combining microstructural evolutions.
基金funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program European Joint Program on RadioactiveWaste Management(EURAD)(2019e2024)WP-Gas‘Mechanistic understanding of gas transport in clay materials’under Grant agreement No.847593.
文摘Understanding the mechanisms of gas transport and the resulting preferential pathways formation through bentonite-based barriers is essential for their performance evaluation.In this experimental study,gas migration within a heterogenous mixture of MX80 bentonite pellets and powder with a ratio of 80/20 in dry mass was investigated.A novel X-ray transparent constant volume cell has been developed to assess the effect of gas pressure,material heterogeneities,and water vapor gas saturation on breakthrough pressure and gas pathways.The new cell allows to perform high-resolution X-ray computed micro-tomography(X-ray μCT)scans to track microstructural changes during different phases of saturation and gas injection.Experimental results showed that the gas breakthrough occurred when the pressure was raised to 3 MPa.This is slightly higher than the expected swelling pressure(2.9 MPa)of the bentonite sample.Each gas injection was followed by a long resaturation phase restoring material homogeneity at μCT resolution scale(16 mm).However,the elapsed time needed for gas to breakthrough at 3 MPa diminished at each subsequent injection test.X-ray μCT results also revealed the opening of the specimen/cell wall interface during gas passage.This opening expanded as the injection pressure increased.The gas flow along the interface was associated with the development of dilatant pathways inside the sample,although they did not reach the outlet surface.It was observed that the water vapor gas saturation had no effect on the breakthrough pressure.These findings enhance the understanding of the complex mechanisms underlying microstructural evolution and gas pathway development within the highly heterogeneous mixture.The experimental outcomes highlight the effectiveness of X-ray μCT to improve quality protocols for engineering design and safety assessments of engineered barriers.
文摘Bentonite is a very useful material for improving soil properties,which enhances the ability of plants to grow and produce in different conditions.The experiment was carried out in an agricultural nursery in one of the areas of the City of Diwaniyah,in a house covered with green netting,with a shade rate of 25%,to study the effect of bentonite and humic acid on the growth and flowering of a Catharanthus roseus L.plant in sandy soil.The experiment included two factors:the first factor was bentonite clay,and the second factor was humic acid.Using a randomized complete block design(R.C.B.D)with three replications,data were analyzed using the analysis of variance(ANOVA)method,and comparison was made according to the least significant difference(L.S.D)test at a probability level of 0.05.The experiment consisted of adding bentonite clay at 0,2,6,and 8 g L-1,humic acid at 0,0.5,1,and 10 g L-1.The results showed that adding bentonite clay and humic acid to sandy soil can have a significant positive effect on the growth and flowering of the Catharanthus roseus plant grown in poor sandy soil conditions.Bentonite,clay and humic acid were added at concentrations of 8 and 10 g L-1,which led to an increase in plant height and number of leaves and leaf area.They reached 30.07,23.84 cm2,76.62,63.42 cm2 for leaf-1 and 24.73,20.22 cm2 for leaf-1,respectively.The results also showed an increase in the content of nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P),and potassium(K)in leaves by 2.27,1.92,1.99%and 1.51,1.22,1.77%.This also led to an increase in chlorophyll pigment and anthocyanin at the highest concentration and gave the highest value.Therefore,adding bentonite and humic acid together gave the highest values in vegetative and chemical characteristics,compared to treatments without addition.
基金financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42202304)is greatly acknowledged.
文摘Predicting the gas diffusion coefficient of water-saturated Na-bentonite is crucial for the overall performance of the geological repository for isolating high-level radioactive waste(HLW).In this study,a conceptual model that incorporates a multi-porosity system was proposed,dividing the pore space into free water pores,interlayer water pores,and diffuse double layer(DDL)water pores,to describe the molecular diffusion behaviour of the dissolved gas in saturated bentonite.In this model,gas diffusion in these three porosities is considered as independent and parallel processes.The apparent gas diffusion coefficient is quantified by applying weighted approximations that consider the specific porosity,tortuosity factor,and constrictivity factor within each porosity domain.For verification,experimental data from gas diffusion tests on saturated MX-80 and Kunipia-F bentonite specimens across a wide range of dry densities were utilized.The proposed model could successfully capture the overall trend of the apparent gas diffusion coefficient for bentonite materials across the partial dry density of montmorillonite ranging from 900 kg/m^(3)to 1820 kg/m^(3),by employing only one fitting parameter of the scaling factor.When the partial dry density of montmorillonite decreased to 800 kg/m^(3),the proposed model shows an underestimation of the apparent gas diffusion coefficient due to possible changes of the tortuosity factor.Model predictions indicate that gas diffusion in saturated bentonite is primarily controlled by the free pore domain,with minimal contributions from DDL pores.Despite being the dominant pore type,interlayer pores contribute limitedly to total Da/Dw values due to significant constrictivity effects.
基金supported by the State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment,Harbin Institute of Technology (No. 2022TS10)the Taishan Industrial Experts Programthe Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province of China (No. ZR2023ME212).
文摘Wet flue gas desulfurization(WFGD)could effectively reduce sulfur dioxide emission.However,magnesium sulfite(MgSO_(3)),a by-product of desulfurization,was easy to result in secondary pollution.In this study,the solid catalyst Co-Bent(bentonite supported cobalt)was prepared by blending method for MgSO_(3) oxidation with bentonite as the carrier and cobalt as the active component.At the calcination temperature of 550℃ and the Co loading level of 3 wt.%,the catalyst showed excellent catalytic performance for the oxidation of high concentration MgSO_(3) slurry,and the oxidation rate of MgSO_(3) was 0.13 mol/(L·h).The research indicated that the active component was uniformly distributed within porous structure of the catalyst as Co_(3)O_(4),which facilitated the oxidation of SO_(3)^(2-) catalyzed by Co_(3)O_(4).Kinetic researches indicated the oxidation rate of MgSO_(3) was influenced by the catalyst dosage,the reaction temperature,the solution pH,the airflow rate,and the SO_(3)^(2-) concentration.Additionally,after recycling experiments,the regenerated catalyst retained its high catalytic performance for the MgSO_(3) oxidation.The reaction mechanism for the catalytic oxidation of MgSO_(3) by Co-Bent catalyst was also proposed.The generation of active free radicals(OH·,SO_(4)^(-)·,SO_(3)^(-)·,SO_(5)^(-)·)accelerated the MgSO_(3) oxidation.These results provide theoretical support for the treatment of MgSO_(3) and the development of durable catalyst.
基金University of Manchester and the China Scholarship Council,Royal Society,UK,Grant/Award Number:IECNSFC211366National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Numbers:5247415,52174133Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China,Grant/Award Number:BK20240107。
文摘Understanding the effects of temperature on the hydro-mechanical behavior of compacted bentonite is important for performance assessments of bentonitebased buffer,backfill,and sealing systems in deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive wastes.Motivated by such applications,most past experimental studies were focused on highly compacted and high-quality bentonite.Such degrees of dry densities may not be economically or technically feasible for other emerging applications,including as an alternative material to cement in plugging and abandonment of wells.A bespoke high-pressure high-temperature constant rate of strain(CRS)apparatus was developed for the work reported here to conduct a series of tests for evaluating the hydro-mechanical response of compacted bentonite to elevated temperatures.Experiments were performed with bentonite specimens with high impurity contents at a range of dry densities(1.1,1.4,and 1.7 Mg/m^(3))and temperatures between 20 and 80℃.The results show that temperature increase leads to the decrease of swelling pressure for all studied densities.Larger reductions of swelling pressure were observed with increasing dry densities,suggesting the possibility of a larger exchange of pore water in the microstructure system of the clay.The transfer of water from micropores to macropores at elevated temperatures is shown to be a key controlling process at high-density compacted bentonite by which temperature affects the swelling pressure and hydraulic conductivity.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No,22271074)Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province(Nos.B2023208042,B2022208032,B2021208066,E2024208084 , E2024208088)+2 种基金Science Research Project of Hebei Education Department(No.JZX2024013)Special Fund for Local Scientific and Technological Development under the Guidance of the Central Government(No.236Z3704G)Hebei Province High Level Talent Funding(No.A202001010).
文摘Flexible wearable electronic devices based on hydrogels have immense potential in a wide range of applications.However,many existing strain sensors suffer from significant limitations including poor mechanical properties,low adhesion,and insufficient conductivity.To address these challenges,this study successfully developed an organic-inorganic double-network conductive hydrogel using acrylic-modified bentonite (AABT) as a key component.The incorporation of AABT significantly enhanced the mechanical properties of the ATHG@LiCl hydrogel,achieving an impressive stretchability of 4000% and tensile strength of 250 kPa.Moreover,it improved the electrical conductivity of the hydrogel to a maximum of 1.53 mS/cm.The catechol structure of tannic acid (TA) further augmented the adhesive properties of the ATHG@LiCl hydrogel toward various substrates such as copper,iron,glass,plastic,wood,and pigskin.The addition of lithium chloride (LiCl) and dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) endowed the hydrogel with exceptional freezing resistance and flexibility,even at low temperatures of-20℃.Remarkably,the hydrogel maintained a conductivity of 0.53 mS/cm under these conditions,surpassing the performance of many other reported hydrogels.Furthermore,the ATHG@LiCl hydrogel demonstrated outstanding characteristics,such as high sensitivity (gauge factor GF=4.50),excellent transparency (90%),and reliable strain-sensing capabilities,indicating that the ATHG@LiCl hydrogel is a highly promising candidate for flexible wearable soft materials,offering significant advancements in both functionality and performance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42430713 and 42125701)Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission(Grant No.2023ZKZD26)。
文摘Deep geological repository is typically situated at depths ranging from several hundred to 1000 m below ground,making bentonite engineered barrier potentially vulnerable to high water pressure and even inducing hydraulic fracturing.This study conducted injection tests on compacted GMZ(Gaomiaozi)bentonite with a self-developed visualization set-up.The objective was to unveil the roles of dry density,water content,and pressurization rate in hydraulic fracturing from the perspective of fracturing macromorphological dynamics and breakthrough characteristics.Moreover,the relationships between breakthrough characteristics and microstructure were examined by MIP(mercury intrusion porosimetry)analysis.Results showed that the fracturing dynamics were characterized by three stages:hydration,cracking,and fracturing stages.Compared to water content and pressurization rate,dry density exerted more pronounced effects on these stages.Increasing dry density can lead to an expansion of circular hydration zone,a more complex cracking network,and a change in fracturing patterns from long and clear to short and fuzzy.In terms of breakthrough characteristics,the breakthrough pressure was positively correlated with dry density and negatively correlated with water content.Interestingly,there is a good and unique logarithmic correlation between the breakthrough pressure and the ratio eM/em of inter-aggregate void ratio and intra-aggregate void ratio,regardless of dry density and water content.Within a certain range(i.e.200-50 kPa/min),breakthrough pressure showed slight dependency on pressurization rate.Nevertheless,an extremely low pressurization rate of 20 kPa/min caused a transition for the specimen from quasi-brittle to plastic state owning to more water infiltration,thereby hindering fracture initiation and propagation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52173304 and U1867216)the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2022YFB3207600)China Scholarship Council(No.2018SLJ014508).
文摘Buffer material and metal disposal containers are the key engineering barriers in the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste.The durability of disposal containers largely depends on the water con-tent in buffer material.This work focused on investigating the corrosion evolution of NiCu low alloy steel in compacted GMZ bentonite with different water contents for 270 d by using weight loss,electrochemi-cal measurements,and various methods for analyzing corrosion products.As the water content increased from 13%to 20%,the water in the bentonite transformed from an unsaturated to a critical saturated state,and the corrosion rate of NiCu steel clearly increased.In these two systems,the oxygen could mi-grate to the thin liquid film on the steel surface through the air pores in the bentonite in the gas phase and undergo cathodic reduction.Meanwhile,it oxidized the ferrous hydrolysis products into ferric corro-sion products and formed a rust layer,which could block the diffusion of oxygen.At that moment,the cathodic process of NiCu steel corrosion changed to rust reduction.When the water content continually increased to 30%and 40%,the compacted bentonite was in a saturation state,and the corrosion rate of NiCu steel was significantly decreased.This was because most pores among the bentonite particles were occupied by a large amount of free water,which hindered the diffusion of oxygen and inhibited its cathodic reduction.Furthermore,it restrained the oxidation of ferrous corrosion products,which greatly weakened the cathodic depolarization of rust,leading to the cathodic process being dominated by the hydrogen evolution reaction.
基金the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42030714,42177138 and 41907239).
文摘Investigation of thermal effects on the strain rate-dependent properties of compacted bentonite is crucial for the long-term safety assessment of deep geological repository for disposal of high-level radioactive waste.In the present work,cylindrical GMZ01 bentonite specimens were compacted with suction-controlled by the vapor equilibrium technique.Then,a series of temperature-and suction-controlled stepwise constant rate of strain(CRS)tests was performed and the rate-dependent compressibility behavior of the highly compacted GMZ01 bentonite was investigated.The plastic compressibility parameterλ,the elastic compressibility parameterκ,the yield stress p0,as well as the viscous parameterαwere determined.Results indicate thatλ,κandαdecrease and p0 increases as suction increases.Upon heating,parametersλ,αand p0 decrease.It is also found that p0 increases linearly with increasing CRS in a double-logarithm coordinate.Based on the experimental results,a viscosity parameterα(s,T)was fitted to capture the effects of suction s and temperature T on the relationship between yield stress and strain rate.Then,an elastic-thermo-viscoplastic model for unsaturated soils was developed to describe the thermal effects on the rate-dependent behavior of highly compacted GMZ01 bentonite.Validation showed that the calculated results agreed well to the measured ones.
基金supported by the General Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42377413).
文摘Colloids are prevalent in nuclear waste repositories,with bentonite colloids posing an uncontrollable risk factor for nuclide migration processes.In this study,static adsorption experiments were coupled with dynamic shower experiments to comprehensively investigate the influence of bentonite colloids on Sr^(2+)migration in granite,considering adsorption capacity.Bentonite colloids have a considerably greater adsorption capacity than both bentonite and granite,with a maximum adsorption of 30.303 mg/g.The adsorption behavior of bentonite colloids on Sr^(2+)is well described by the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models,indicating that a single-layer chemical adsorption process is controlled by the site activation energy.The adsorbed Sr^(2+)is unevenly distributed on the colloids,and the adsorption mechanism may involve ion exchange with Ca.Bentonite colloids exhibit superior adsorption in neutral environments.The cations in groundwater inhibit Sr^(2+)adsorption,and the inhibition efficacy decreases in the order Fe^(3+)>Ca^(2+)>Mg^(2+)>K^(+).The presence of bentonite colloids in a granite column slightly influences the retention of Sr^(2+)in the column while markedly reducing the Sr^(2+)penetration time from 70 h to 18 h.However,the coexistence of Co^(2+),Ni^(2+),and Cs^(+)in a multinuclide system weakens the ability of the colloids to promote Sr^(2+)migration.In comigration of colloid and multinuclide systems,the adsorption of nuclides by bentonite colloids causes the nuclide migration speed to decrease in the order Sr^(2+)>Cs^(+)>Ni^(2+)>Co^(2+).This study provides insights into Sr^(2+)migration in cave repositories for low-and medium-level radioactive waste.
基金the National Natural Science Foundationof China (Grant No. 42030714).
文摘Predicting the gas breakthrough pressure of saturated compacted bentonite is crucial for ensuring the long-term safe operation of deep geological repositories for the disposal of high-level radioactive nuclear wastes.In this work,the swelling pressure,water injection,gas injection and mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP)tests on saturated compacted Gaomiaozi(GMZ)bentonite specimens with a dry density of 1.3 Mg/m^(3),1.4 Mg/m^(3),1.5 Mg/m^(3),1.6 Mg/m^(3) and 1.7 Mg/m^(3) were conducted.Subsequently,the relationships between the swelling pressure and average inter-particle distance,as well as between the gas entry pressure and the maximum effective pore size were analyzed and established.Considering that gas migration and breakthrough are all closely related to the pore structures of the tested geomaterials,a novel gas breakthrough pressure prediction model based on the pore size distribution(PSD)curve was constructed using an existing prediction model based on gas entry pressure and swelling pressure.Finally,based on the test results of the specimens 1.5 Mg/m^(3),1.6 Mg/m^(3) and 1.7 Mg/m^(3),gas breakthrough pressures of the specimens with dry densities of 1.3 Mg/m^(3) and 1.4 Mg/m^(3) were predicted.The results show that the calculated gas breakthrough pressures of 0.76 MPa and 1.28 MPa are very close to the measured values of 0.80 MPa and 1.30 MPa,validating the accuracy of the proposed model.
基金support from a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(KAKENHI B),Japan(Project/Area code:23H01505)the Institute for Sustainable Future Society,Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering,Research Initiatives in Japansupport from the Chinese Scholar Council for PhD scholarships(Grant No.202206220061)was acknowledged。
文摘This paper presents a method for obtaining the displacement of sand particles in a sand–bentonite mixture(SBM)when saturated with water,based on particle tracking velocimetry(PTV).The raw photographs were first converted into binary images.The sand particles were then detected,and the displacement of the sand particles was obtained by comparing their positions in adjacent images.The swelling strain induced by saturation was also obtained using the proposed PTV method.This method was validated by comparing the result with those obtained using a displacement transducer.Subsequently,a comparative analysis of sand particle displacements was conducted for specimens with varying bentonite content(BC),initial thickness,and water infiltration directions.The experimental results obtained were as follows:(1)For specimens with different BCs,local swelling displacement of sand particles at the top part of the specimen increased with higher BCs;(2)For specimens with various heights(hsp),larger local swelling displacement was generated at lower hsp at the initial state;(3)Local swelling characteristics differed in different water infiltration directions.Top-side infiltration showed a significant downward movement of particles during the first several hours of swelling.An estimation method for the dry density distribution of the specimen was proposed based on PTV data and then verified by slicing dry density and water content measurement results.
基金The Royal Society,UK,Grant/Award Number:IEC\NSFC\211366Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(China University of Mining and Technology),Grant/Award Number:2023ZDPY11National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Numbers:51809263,52174133。
文摘The corrosion of waste canisters in the deep geological disposal facilities(GDFs)for high-level radioactive waste(HLRW)can generate gas,which escapes from the engineered barrier system through the interfaces between the bentonite buffer blocks and the host rock and those between the bentonite blocks.In this study,a series of water infiltration and gas breakthrough experiments were conducted on granite and on granite-bentonite specimens with smooth and grooved interfaces.On this basis,this study presents new insights and a quantitative assessment of the impact of the interface between clay and host rock on gas transport.As the results show,the water permeability values from water infiltration tests on granite and granite-bentonite samples(10−19-10−20m^(2))are found to be slightly higher than that of bentonite.The gas permeability of the mock-up samples with smooth interfaces is one order of magnitude larger than that of the mock-up with grooved interfaces.The gas results of breakthrough pressures for the granite and the granite-bentonite mock-up samples are significantly lower than that of bentonite.The results highlight the potential existence of preferential gas migration channels between the rock and bentonite buffer that require further considerations in safety assessment.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42125701)the Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission(Grant No.2023ZKZD26)+2 种基金Fund of the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission(Grant No.22DZ2201200)Top Discipline Plan of Shanghai Universities-Class I and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central UniversitiesFinancial support from the International Post-Doc Fund of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is greatly appreciated.
文摘In high-level nuclear waste(HLW)repositories,concrete and compacted bentonite are designed to be employed as buffer materials,which may raise a problem of interactions between concrete and bentonite.These interactions would lead to mineralogy transformation and buffer performance decay of bentonite under the near field environment conditions in a repository.A small-scale experimental setup was established to simulate the concrete-bentonite-site water interaction system from a potential nuclear waste repository in China.Three types of mortars were prepared to correspond to the concrete at different degradation states.The results permit the determination of the following:(1)The macroproperties of Gaomiaozi(GMZ)bentonite(e.g.swelling pressure,permeability,the final dry density,and water content of reacted samples);(2)The composition evolution of fluids from the synthetic site water-concrete-bentonite interaction systems;(3)The sample characterization including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)and X-ray powder diffraction(XRD).Under the infiltration of the synthesis Beishan site water(BSW),the swelling pressure of bentonite decreases slowly with time after reaching its second swelling peak.The flux decreases with time during the infiltrations,and it tends to be stable after more than 120 d.Due to the cation exchange reactions in the BSW-concrete-bentonite systems,the divalent cations(Ca and Mg)were consumed,and the monovalent cations(Na and K)were released.The dissolution of minerals in the bentonite such as albite causes Si increasing in the pore water.It was concluded that the hydro-mechanical property degradation of bentonite takes place when it comes into contact with concrete mortar,even under low-pH groundwater conditions.The soil dispersion,the uneven water content,and the uneven dry density in bentonite samples may partly contribute to the swelling decay of bentonite.Therefore,the direct contact with concrete has an obvious effect on the performance of bentonite.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.41972265)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.lzujbky-2021-57)+1 种基金the Gansu Province Science Foundation(Grant No.20JR10RA492)Special thanks to the Environmental Research and Education Foundation for supporting the first author(Y.Tan)through a fellowship for his study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
文摘Experiments were conducted to evaluate the healing of drying cracks in air-dried bentonite-sand blocks after hydration and swelling in groundwater,providing justifications to simplify the protection of blocks prior to installation in a high-level radioactive waste repository.Synthetic groundwater was prepared to represent the geochemistry of Beishan groundwater,and was used to hydrate the blocks during the swelling pressure and swelling strain measurements,as Beishan is the most promising site for China's repository.Healing of the surface cracks was recorded by photography,and healing of the internal cracks was visualized by CT images and hydraulic conductivity of air-dried blocks.The results indicate that the maximum swelling pressure and swelling strain are primarily affected by the geochemistry of Beishan groundwater,but not affected by the drying cracks.The maximum swelling pressure and swelling strain of air-dried blocks are comparable to or even higher than the pressure and strain of fresh blocks.The maximum swelling pressure measured in strong(i.e.high ion strength)Beishan groundwater was 44%of the pressure measured in deionized(DI)water,and the maximum swelling strain was reduced to 23%of the strain measured in DI water.Nevertheless,the remained swelling of the blocks hydrated in strong Beishan groundwater was sufficient to heal the surface and internal drying cracks,as demonstrated by the pictures of surface cracks and CT images.The hydraulic conductivity of the air-dried block permeated with strong groundwater was comparable(3.7×higher)to the hydraulic conductivity of the fresh block,indicating the self-healing of drying cracks after hydration and swelling in groundwater.A simplified method of protecting the block with plastic wraps before installation is recommended,since the remained swelling of the block hydrated in Beishan groundwater is sufficient to heal the drying cracks.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(50575085)
文摘Both the chemical compositions and performance characteristics of the bentonite raw ores in Ezhou area of Hubei province and Honghuoshan area of Liaoning of these two kinds of bentonites were tested before and province were compared and analyzed. The properties after Na^＋- and Li^＋-modification. The results show that the Ezhou bentonite ore possesses higher montmorillonite content than the Honghuoshan bentonite ore, but the Ezhou Na-bentonite has weaker castability （e.g. wet compression strength and hot wet tensile strength） than the Honghuoshan Na-bentonite, while the performance of Ezhou Li-bentonite, such as colloid index, swelling value, swelling volume and mould coating performance, is equivalent to that of the Honghuoshan Na-bentonite.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.42125701 and 41977232)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No.2021M702234).
文摘The requisite functions of a bentonite buffer in a deep geological repository depend on the sealing/healing of bentonite interfaces,with particular emphasis on the self-healing(automatic healing upon wetting)of assembled bentonite-bentonite interfaces.This study determined the shear resistance(including the peak shear strength and secant modulus)of densely compacted Gaomiaozi(GMZ)bentonite and its assembled interface after confined water saturation.The effect of bentonite dry density and saturation time on the shear resistance of saturated healed interfaces was elucidated,and the interfacial self-healing capacity was assessed.The results indicate that the shear resistance of the saturated healed interfaces increased with the bentonite dry density but had a non-monotonic correlation with the saturation time.For a given dry density of the bentonite,the saturated healed interface exhibits a lower peak shear strength than the saturated intact bentonite but a higher peak shear strength than the saturated separated interface.The saturated healed and separated interfaces have comparable shear moduli(secant moduli),which are lower than that of the saturated intact bentonite.The saturated healed interfaces display smooth shear failure planes,while the saturated assembled interfaces and intact bentonite exhibit comparable frictional angles.This indicates that interfacial self-healing plays a pivotal role in enhancing interfacial peak shear strength by facilitating microstructural bonding at the assembled interface.Finally,it can be stated that densely compacted GMZ bentonite has a robust interfacial self-healing capacity in terms of shear resistance.These findings contribute to the design of the bentonite buffer and facilitate the evaluation of its safe operation at specified disposal ages.
基金Funded by Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission(No.KJZD-K202212905)Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing,China(No.cstc2019jcyj-msxmX0453)。
文摘Fluorographene(FG)with narrow lateral size and thickness distributions was prepared by a liquid-phase exfoliation method,based on liquid cascade centrifugation.The Rtec MFT-5000 tribo-meter was used to investigate the lubricating performance of bentonite grease enhanced by the as-prepared FG.The results showed that the coefficient of friction and the wear volume of bentonite grease with 0.3 wt%FG were decreased by 20.4%and 44.9%,respectively,as compared to those of the base grease.The main reason is that FG can promote the formation of the tribo-chemical reaction film consisting of complex carbon oxide,Fe_(2)O_(3)and FeF_(3)on the friction surface,which can remarkably improve the performance of friction reduction and prevent the appearance of severe wear.
基金supported by the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China(Grant No.42125701)Innovation Program of Shanghai Municipal Education Commission(Grant No.2023ZKZD26)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,and Top Discipline Plan of Shanghai Universities-Class I.
文摘In the high-level radioactive waste(HLW)deep geological repository,bentonite is compacted uniaxially,and then arranged vertically in engineered barriers.The assembly scheme induces the initial anisotropy,and with hydration,it develops more evidently under chemical conditions.To investigate the anisotropic swelling of compacted Gaomiaozi(GMZ)bentonite and the further response to saline effects,a series of constant-volume swelling pressure tests were performed.Results showed that dry density enhanced the bentonite swelling and raised the final anisotropy,whereas saline inhibited the bentonite swelling but still promoted the final anisotropy.The final anisotropy coefficient(ratio of radial to axial pressure)obeyed the Boltzmann sigmoid attenuation function,decreasing with concentration and dry density,converging to a minimum value of 0.76.The staged evolution of anisotropy coefficient was discovered,that saline inhibited the rise of the anisotropy coefficient(Dd)in the isotropic process greater than the valley(d1)in the anisotropic process,leading to the final anisotropy increasing.The isotropic stage amplified the impact of soil structure rearrangement on the macro-swelling pressure values.Thus,a new method for predicting swelling pressures of compacted bentonite was proposed,by expanding the equations of Gouy-Chapman theory with a dissipative wedge term.An evolutionary function was constructed,revealing the correlation between the occurrence time and the pressure value due to the structure rearrangement and the former crystalline swelling.Accordingly,a design reference for dry density was given,based on the chemical conditions around the pre-site in Beishan,China.The anisotropy promoted by saline would cause a greater drop of radial pressure,making the previous threshold on axial swelling fail.
